1. law, govt and politics

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in your first year of law
A realistic guide to the study and practiCe of law
This
created
by members
of the Committee
This Guide was created by members of
theGuide
NSWwas
Young
Lawyers
Civil Litigation
NSW Young Lawyers Civil Litigation Committee
About this Guide:
The aim of this nutshell guide is to expose
the media contradictions and dispel the
public perceptions that the practice of law is
glamorous, interesting, highly prestigious,
and well paid.
It is the essential survival guide to assist you
in deciding whether a legal career is the
right choice for you, and if so, how to
survive the everyday legal professional
challenges from law school through to the
first few years of legal practice.
Published by:
NSW Young Lawyers
170 Phillip Street
Sydney NSW 2000, DX 362 Sydney
T: (02) 9926 0270 F: (02) 9926 0282
E: [email protected]
www.younglawyers.com.au
Design by:
Raubinger Visual Communications
T: 0417 177 817
www.raubinger.com.au
© 2010 NSW Young Lawyers. This publication is protected by copyright. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), no part of this
publication may be reproduced or stored by any process electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission of the copyright owner.
o
t
w
ho
e
v
i
v
sur
e
v
i
r
&th
in your first year of law
A realistic guide to the
study and practiCe of law
This Guide was created by members of the
NSW Young Lawyers Civil Litigation Committee
This Guide was created by members of the
NSW Young Lawyers Civil Litigation Committee
CONTENTS
About NSW Young Lawyers______________________________________ 3
Foreword___________________________________________________ 4
Introduction: A day in the life …___________________________________ 5
Before you got to university______________________________________ 8
How do I become a lawyer?_____________________________________ 16
The degree was hard work - getting a job is the easy part? Wrong!_________ 21
Your first two years of practice___________________________________ 40
Work related problems_________________________________________ 53
Managing your professional reputation_____________________________ 69
Further recommended reading___________________________________ 72
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
N
SW Young Lawyers
(www.younglawyers.com.au) is
a professional organisation and
department of the Law Society of NSW.
It represents lawyers up to 36 years of age
or who have been admitted to practice for
less than five years, as well as law
students. All lawyers in NSW fitting this
description are automatically members
of NSW Young Lawyers.
NSW Young Lawyers is comprised of a
number of committees, each of which
specialise in a particular field of law. The
Civil Litigation Committee is made up of
lawyers, barristers and students who have
an interest in civil litigation. The vision of
the Committee is to create a profession
distinguished by its commitment to
excellence in dispute resolution, collegiality
and opportunities for practitioners to grow.
The Committee specialises in all matters
within the realm of civil dispute resolution.
Regardless of the method, the jurisdiction
or the field of law, we focus on the exciting
part of all disputes - resolving them!
The Committee has endeavoured to make
the area of professional support and reform
2 2HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
one of its main priorities. The legal
profession has recently been engulfed by
reports of endemic depression and the poor
treatment of young lawyers by their
employers and peers. This has caused
considerable debate in the wider legal
community and has captured the attention
of the Committee. This guide endeavours to
give a public voice to the problems which
young lawyers face in their first years of
practice and assist young lawyers with their
efforts in becoming a part of this great and
challenging profession.
Without the hard work and dedication of
active committee members, this guide
would not have been possible. I am
indebted to Natalie Mason and Kathryn
Millist who initiated and drafted this guide.
I also wish to express my sincere thanks to
Jonathan Adamopoulos, Michael Bacina,
Natalie Karam, Stephen Lee and Lexi
Rosenwax, who assisted with editing.
Joanne Chaina
Solicitor, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Chair, Civil Litigation Committee (Nov 07 - Nov 10)
NSW Young Lawyers
3
FOREWORD
I
wish that this guidebook had been
available when I was a young lawyer.
Or, better yet, when I was just finishing
school.
If it was, I’d now probably be a happy Vet.
If I’m really honest though, even if this
guidebook was around 20 or so years ago,
I probably wouldn’t have read it. If there’s
one piece of advice that I’d give to a young
lawyer today, it’s this: read this guidebook.
All of it. Now.
Why? Well, if you’re going to potentially
spend 20, 30, maybe even 40 years doing
something, it’s a good idea to read the
instruction booklet first. And ‘How to survive
and thrive in your first year of law’ is a great
instruction manual. If the authors have left
out an important aspect of legal practice for
a young lawyer to consider, or have failed to
address all of the questions a graduate
might ask, I don’t know what it would be.
There’s probably also an even better reason
to read this guidebook. It’s one thing to be a
20-something that finds themselves staring
out of a law firm window while wondering,
is there something better than this? It’s a
whole lot sadder to be doing that as a
forty-something. This guidebook is designed
to ensure that shouldn’t happen.
4
It’s natural for a book like this to focus on
the pitfalls of legal practice rather than the
positives, and a whole lot of bad stuff gets
covered in the pages that follow. Long
hours; burnout; stories about partners who
“don’t have time to be nice”; stories about
having to do things that perhaps you’re not
ethically suited to. And, at the end of it,
realising that in your entire career you will
probably never have an Alan Shore or
Denny Crane moment in court.
Except unintentionally.
It’s still true, just as it was nearly 50 years
ago, that “no one gets to be Atticus Finch
except Gregory Peck.” But you might end
up finding out that you like being a lawyer.
A lot of people do, and some of those
people do a lot of good for others while
they’re at it. You might end up finding out
that parts of it are enjoyable, and that some
of it’s even fun. Even some of the hard stuff.
Whether you end up liking being a lawyer or
not though, you’ll be a whole lot better
informed about the sometimes daunting
process of starting your career if you read
‘How to survive and thrive in your first year
of law’.
Richard Beasley
Barrister, Level Nine Wentworth Chambers
a day in
the life
…
The reality of legal
practice in the style of
Bridget Jones
Hours spent at wo
rk: 14.2 (v. good);
billable hours: 5.7
(v. bad);
minutes spent st
aring out window
:
97 (needs improvem
ent.);
minutes spent me
ntally reliving
conversations an
d imagining what
I should have said
instead of
what I did say: 46
(excellent);
number of times
let ringing phone
go
to voicemail: 2 (v.
bad, College of
Law lecturer said
this was sign of
professional incom
petence, but
calls were from
mother, so okay).
55
day
t
shoghly e
t
h o u s h i r a t y and
You
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will
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reg with an o seen All n Legthe
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Sh
Before
D
espite their legal setting, shows like
Boston Legal and The Practice focus
on unrealistic dramatised Court
hearings and the romantic and personal
lives of the main characters. Being a lawyer
is not as glamorous or exciting as portrayed
by these dramas and legalistic movies such
as A Few Good Men or The Firm. These
dramas and movies are far removed from
the realities of day-to-day practice as a
lawyer. They are analogous to legal fictions:
“A legal fiction ... is an assumption of
a possible thing as a fact, which is not
literally true...” 1
“Unfortunately,
no one gets to
be Atticus Finch
except Gregory Peck”
Glossy graduate brochures promise a future
of success and endless career potential.
However, (subject to the particular firm or
practice area), many lawyers spend the
majority of their working day inside offices,
behind computers, researching and drafting
complex written advices, pleadings and
letters and not involved in high-profile trials.2
This can require extensive research and/or
the review of many documents. Some
paralegals and junior lawyers spend years
reviewing and summarising entire rooms
full of documents from floor to ceiling in
order to establish the relevant facts in
issue between the parties in disputed
proceedings.
Working as a lawyer involves the practical
application of legal precedents and theories
to resolve and negotiate legal problems.
In reality the first years of legal practice
can consist of solitary hours in front of a
computer or in isolated rooms reviewing
documents.
“...most of a lawyer’s time is filled with
paperwork, interviews, research, filing and
re-filing motions and organising case files.
Unfortunately, no one gets to be Atticus
Finch except Gregory Peck”. 3
you got to university
The mismatch between
expectation and reality
8
9
T
here is likely to be more than one
occupation that is right for you. Write a list
of your strengths, abilities, interests,
passions and experiences. Consider what your
hopes and visions are for your future. Talk to
people who are lawyers about their experiences
and attend career expositions at universities
and/or schools in your area.
Is a legal
career
for me?
“There are many
different pathways that
can lead to rewarding
careers. Remember, a
choice made today is
not a choice made
forever. People are no
longer locked into one
occupation or
education level...”
4
10
Refer to useful websites such as
www.myfuture.edu.au, which is Australia’s online
career information and exploration service.
Myfuture provides information and tools to help
people investigate career pathways. It includes
comprehensive information about various
occupations, courses and most importantly
state-by-state labour market information which
may assist you in deciding whether law is the
right occupation for you. 5
Attending law school is an enormous
personal and financial commitment and one
that should not be entered into without
deep consideration and adequate financial
and personal self-assessment.
industries (for example health, financial,
property, construction), engaging your
thoughts, participating in legal debate,
being involved in interesting research and
resolving complex factual scenarios.
If you are serious about a career in law,
evaluate your abilities, work inclinations,
and personal goals.
You will also require good organisational
skills, interpersonal skills, a good
understanding of time management,
(both at work and home) and of course, a
passion for justice and fairness with good
business acumen.
Being a lawyer can be fulfilling if you enjoy
working in a team, working under pressure
to meet deadlines, learning about various
Don’t be persuaded to study law just because you
obtained a high UAI and felt pressured by
your family and/or peers to study law.
Certain companies and professions (including law)
will request a copy of your academic transcript
and confirmation of your UAI when you apply for
postgraduate positions. To find out more on
occupations, job prospects, employment growth,
skill profile and average income of various
occupations go to www.joboutlook.gov.au. 6
“It stands to reason that they will excel at that
which they want to study. Applying for a course
with a lower cut-off than the UAI they achieved is
not a waste of a UAI.” 7
Don’t be persuaded to study law just because
you obtained a high UAI and felt pressured by
your family and/or peers to study law, or because
you exceeded the requisite cut-off for the course
of your choice. Choose a course in which you
are interested.
how itvoe
surv
and
ive
th11r11
The hours
“Without question: The single biggest complaint
amongst lawyers is increasingly long work days
and decreasing time for personal and family life.” 8
An overview of
the inherent
requirements of
private practice
You should be prepared to work up to 60 hours a
week as a lawyer in private practice. You may be
required to meet client deadlines at short notice, to
draft an advice or prepare for Court at short notice.
You may also be required to work late nights or
weekends and to have the ability to remain
focused and calm under extreme pressure. In her
novel The Pin Striped Prison, How overachievers
get trapped in corporate jobs they hate, author
Lisa Pryor (a former law graduate) discusses how
“big firms seduce brilliant students into joining
the corporate world, with all its perks and
excesses. Crazy work hours swallow these young
professionals’ lives, just as dry cleaning, taxis
and take-away food swallows their large salaries.
By the time they discover their work is
fundamentally boring, they are usually trapped –
by fear, big mortgages and the expectations of
their proud parents.” 9
Marketing and practice development
Lawyers in private practice are increasingly
required to participate in marketing, business
development and practice development.
Marketing frequently involves networking in your
own time, attending seminars and lunches and
after work drinks with clients.
“The novelty of Wagyu beef and obscure cheeses
starts to wear off once recruits realise they are
entertaining clients on their own time if not their
own coin, making small talk with crusty old
businessmen rather than spending time with
real friends.” 10
You are also likely to be involved in practice
development which involves keeping up-to-date
with your competitors in the industry and
developing your everyday practice to keep up
with market requirements.
12
You may be required to draft marketing
tenders and seek meaningful feedback
from your clients in order to facilitate a
more competitive and/or better service.
It is also likely that you will be required to
give seminars to your colleagues and
your clients:
“According to most studies, people’s
number one fear is public speaking.
Number two is death. Death is number two.
Does that sound right? This means to the
average person, if you go to a funeral,
you’re better off in the casket than doing
the eulogy.” 11
The billable unit
The legal profession sells time: “Money
is not just incidental to practice but it is
at its core.” 12
Many lawyers complain about not having
control over their lives as they have to
record and account for every six minutes of
their working day in a time sheet (either
manually or electronically) in what is
referred to as the billable unit. For example,
a short telephone call may only take three
minutes but is disclosed to the client at the
minimum unit rate of six minutes. This takes
into account the time taken to access the
file, review the matter in relation to the call,
return the file and document the contents of
the telephone call in a file note.
Most lawyers working in private practice will
have a billable budget target of between five
to eight hours a day. There is a huge
difference between your billable target hours
and the hours you actually spend at work.
To achieve a billable target of seven hours it
is likely that you will be in the office for
about nine or ten hours per day.
You must practise honestly and ethically,
which means billing only the time you
spend working directly on matters for
clients. Some of your working day is likely
to involve non-billable work. For example,
some insurance clients will not pay for
internal meetings, internal emails or time
spent receiving instructions from your
supervisor. Other non-billable requirements
include marketing and practice
development, learning and development,
research, making numerous amendments
to letters or reports or reading a file to
familiarise yourself with the facts and
issues. What constitutes billable and
non-billable work will vary between
individual firms and clients so always
check with your supervisor.
Junior lawyers in larger firms often work for
a number of solicitors and partners who are
likely to make competing demands on their
time, and you will be less likely to be able
to successfully plan and manage your time
and your work in order to achieve your
billable targets without having to work back
after hours.
The salary
The long hours spent at the office will not
necessarily be reflected in your income.
In recent surveys 25% of lawyers in NSW
earned under $50,000; 50% earned
under $75,000; and only 15% earned
over $150,000.13
Without question: The single biggest complaint
amongst lawyers is increasingly long work days
and decreasing time for personal and family life.
13
Taking a
gap year
You may not want to study law
immediately, you may choose to
take a break in your first year
out of school to travel, pursue
a hobby, earn money, volunteer,
or gain skills and life experience
before moving on to formal study
(a gap year).
Taking a gap year from studying to do something
different may help you to think about the career
you want to pursue. It can also increase your
skills and life experiences, enhance your
understanding of a chosen field of study, and
add to your future employability. For further
information, see: www.year12whatnext.gov.au.14
14
HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
15
How
TO BECOME A LAWYER
In reality you need good grades to get
a position at university to study law.
I
f you are unable to achieve high grades and are determined
to study law, consider commencing an alternative degree
with a view to applying to transfer to a law degree at a
later stage. Alternatively, try contacting other accredited
law schools and consider applying for an accredited
diploma in law.
You could also take a few years out, travel,
pursue other career paths, and consider
applying as a mature age student at a later
date. (The grades required by mature
age students may be less
competitive, however; check the
individual requirements of each
accredited law school).
The first year (at university) they scare you to death,
the second year they work you to death, and the third year they bore you to death.
Degree or Diploma
How much does a law degree cost?
The first prerequisites to a career in law
are the intelligence, diligence and
commitment to undertake and successfully
complete either an accredited Diploma in
Law, or a NSW accredited law degree, such
as a Bachelor of Laws or Master of Laws.
The accredited Law Schools 15 in NSW are:
A law degree is expensive. Fees range
from between $3,000 to $6,000 per
semester, depending on the particular
university, the type of the degree and the
number of subjects you study per
semester. Practical legal training fees are
in the range of $9,000 and can vary
between institutions.
Name of accredited law schoolDegree
University of Sydney
LLB
University of New South Wales
LLB
Macquarie University
LLB
University of Technology, Sydney
LLB
University of Wollongong
LLB
University of New England
LLB or JD
Southern Cross University
LLB
University of Newcastle
University of Western Sydney
University of Notre Dame
LLB
LLB or MLP
LLB or JD
Upon completion of your degree, in order to
be eligible for admission to practice law, it
is necessary to complete an accredited
program of practical legal training (PLT).
PLT has certain ethical and professional
responsibility requirements. Prior to being
admitted as a solicitor you will be required
to obtain two written references on your
character, reputation and suitability for
admission as a lawyer, including your
honesty and integrity. If you have a criminal
conviction or a history of unethical dealings
your admission as a legal practitioner may
be declined.
Generally speaking a law degree and the
required practical legal training will cost
approximately $40,000 to $50,000, not
including the costs of purchasing law
books or loss of salary while studying.
Law books are expensive and can cost up
to $500 per semester. Second hand books
are available for sale, but may contain out
of date case law and/or legislation and
therefore cannot always be relied upon.
If you are considering moving away from
home to study, they you will also have to
pay for your rental and other living costs.
Surviving university
“The first year [at university] they
scare you to death, the second year they
work you to death, and the third year
they bore you to death.” 16
If you are fortunate enough to be accepted
in an accredited course be prepared to
spend a lot of time reading cases, doing
course work and writing assignments.
For every hour spent in class you are
likely to spend two to three additional
hours studying.
Before embarking on a law degree be
mentally prepared for unachievable
workloads, a 15 hour day to meet work and
family expectations, attend university
seminars and tutorials, do hours of reading
and a part-time job if you require a source
of income. Wenee Yap and Julian Ngui have
written a guide on everything you need to
know to survive Law School. Their very
colourful and extremely informative website
is written by law students for law students.
It offers: “tried-and-tested tips and tricks
designed to ease your way through the
piled high readings, legal fictions, exams
and assessments…that the study of law
could lay before you”.
The law school mentors and members of
the Survive Law team will even answer any
questions you may have about being a law
student including “in-depth advice on
improving your physical and mental health
and well-being.” 18
For more information see:
www.survivelaw.com/guideintro.html.
What is Practical Legal Training?
The requirements for admission as a lawyer
in New South Wales are outlined in rules 95
and 96 of the Legal Profession Admission
Rules 2005 (Rules). The Rules outline both
the academic requirements (Academic
Requirements) and the PLT requirements
(PLT Requirements) necessary for
admission as a lawyer to the Supreme
Court of New South Wales.
The Academic Requirements
Section 95 (1) of the rules provides that the
Academic Requirements for admission are:
(1) (a) completion of a tertiary academic
course, whether or not leading to a
degree in law, which includes the
equivalent of at least three years
full-time study of law and which is
recognised in at least one Australian
jurisdiction as providing sufficient
academic training for admission by
the Supreme Court of that
jurisdiction as a lawyer, and
(b) completion of courses of study,
whether as part of (a) or otherwise,
which are recognised in at least one
Australian jurisdiction, for the
purposes of academic requirements
for admission by the Supreme Court
of that jurisdiction as a lawyer, as
providing sufficient academic
training in the following areas of
knowledge:
Criminal Law and Procedure
Torts
Contracts
Property both Real (incl. Torrens
system land) and Personal Equity
Administrative Law
Federal and State Constitutional Law
Civil Procedure
Evidence
Company Law
Professional Conduct.
At university, your fellow law students are
likely to be ambitious, competitive people.
“While you are reading a ridiculously priced
legal textbook, having convulsions about an
impending assessment and drowning in a
mass of legal material – you might actually
wonder why you are doing this?” 17
HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
19
The PLT Requirements include both
structured and supervised training and
workplace experience 19 of at least 90
hours of workplace training, or 12 months
(1800 hours) of closely supervised full time
work as an articled clerk incorporating at
least 90 hours of programmed training, or
a non-award training course of at least 6
months (900 hours) in which at least 450
hours is programmed training and at least
90 hours is workplace experience.
Section 96 of the Rules provides that:
(1) The practical training requirement for admission is completion of a course of practical training or articles:
(a) which is recognised in at least
one Australian jurisdiction as
providing sufficient practical
training for admission by the
Supreme Court of that
jurisdiction as a lawyer, and
(b) which includes evidence of the
attainment of competencies in
the following areas:
Skills
– Lawyers’ Skills
– Problem Solving
– Work Management
and Business Skills
– Trust and Office Accounting
Practice Areas
– Civil Litigation Practice
– Commercial and Corporate Practice
– Property Law Practice
– One of the following: Administrative Law Practice, Criminal Law Practice or Family Law Practice
– One of the following: Consumer Law Practice, Employment and Industrial Relations Practice, Planning
20HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
Values
– Ethics and Professional
Responsibility.
In New South Wales you can undertake
accredited programs of PLT at the following
institutions:
Name of Institution Accredited Programme
College of Law
Professional Program
University of Newcastle
Diploma of Legal Practice
Australian National
University
Legal Workshop (other
than by the Summer Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice Program) up to 30 June 2007
University of Practical Legal Training
WollongongCourse
Bond University
Practical Training Program up to
30 June 2007
University of Technology Sydney
Faculty of Law
Professional Program OR Master of Law and
Legal Practice
University of Western Graduate Diploma in
Sydney
Legal Practice OR Master of Legal Practice (subject to completion of professional legal placement) 20
Upon completion of the Academic
Requirements and the PLT Requirements
you are eligible to apply for admission as
a solicitor.
Once admitted as a solicitor you may
practice as either a barrister (obtaining a
practising certificate through the New
South Wales Bar Association), or as a
solicitor and barrister (obtaining a
practising certificate through the Law
Society of New South Wales). 21
“While you are reading a ridiculously priced legal textbook, having
convulsions about an impending assessment and drowning in a mass of
legal material – you might actually wonder why you are doing this?”
and Environmental Law Practice,
Wills and Estates Practice,
The PLT Requirements
The
degree
was hard
work.
Getting a
job is
the
easy
part.
wrong
Unfortunately, it is likely that at some stage
in your career either yourself or one of your
peers will be subjected to the ‘impatient,
aggressive, no time to be pleasant’ attitude
that is discussed by His Honour, Justice
Palmer on the next page. The aim of the
following chapters are to help you
identify, avoid and survive these and other
similar detrimental scenarios which
unfortunately are all too often faced by
young lawyers in their first years of practice.
On
11Nov. 2006, the
Honourable Justice
Palmer, Supreme Court
of New South
Wales gave the
following speech
to the College of
Law, Sydney, at a
conference on
‘bridging gaps’ in the theoretical
knowledge of the law, absorbed
from lectures and the study of
cases in law reports, and the
practical knowledge which only
comes from real life experience
of working in the law. In his
poignant and evocative speech
he correctly notes the following:
“Bridging that gap into the real world of
practice can sometimes be a rude
awakening. Recently a very bright young
law graduate got a job with one of the
largest and most prestigious firms in town.
He couldn’t believe his luck when he was
told he was going to work directly for the
senior commercial partner. He was even
more flattered when the senior partner
invited him to his home for dinner to get to
know him better. The law graduate arrived
at the partner’s palatial Harbour-side
residence and was shown around.
Eventually they went into the partner’s
study. The young man was incredulous to
see a Picasso hanging on the wall.
such as are covered in Ethics courses. I’m
talking about the sort of wisdom that
produces a well-balanced person equipped
to use the law responsibly and beneficially,
a lawyer who is ultimately a contributor to
the stability and good order of our society.
“Gosh, sir,” he blurted out. “That’s a real
Picasso, isn’t it? It must have cost an
absolute fortune!”
Am I being a little melodramatic? I don’t
think so. Just in the last month I have heard
of two young lawyers who became
completely disillusioned after working for a
year or so in a large firm and have left the
law for good. Let me give you an illustration
of why this could have happened.
“It certainly did,” replied the partner, putting
a paternal hand on the young man’s
shoulder . “And if you buckle down to hard
work, my boy, put in fifteen to sixteen hours
a day six days a week, forget about having
a life and give yourself body and soul to the
firm, in five years’ time, I’ll be able to buy
another one.”
The gap I want to talk about is the gap
between knowledge and wisdom –
knowledge of the techniques of the law and
the wisdom necessary to be a good lawyer.
In referring to wisdom I’m not referring to
ethical principles of professional conduct
22HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
Why, as PLT teachers, should you have to
concern yourselves with that sort of
wisdom? The answer, in my opinion, is that
when young lawyers start their professional
lives they may well not get a chance to
acquire it for themselves before they
become disillusioned and burnt out –
before the contributions which they might
have made to the law and to society is
simply lost.
Recently, a former tipstaff of mine wrote to
me about an experience he had at a job
interview. Now this tipstaff was a very bright
graduate, had done excellent work during
his year as a tipstaff/researcher and should
have had an easy passage into a rewarding
professional career. Listen to what he wrote
about an interview with a partner of a large
city law firm:
I’m a busy man, I don’t have
time to be nice, so if you’re
looking for some sort of
mentor you’ve come to the
wrong place. I have high
standards and I’ll hold you
to them. If you don’t meet
them you’ll soon know
about it. If I suspect you’re
not giving me
100% of your
best
you’ll
soon know
about it. Don’t
expect this to be a
nice place; it
isn’t.
23
“The partner asked me what I was looking
for in this job. I said that while I think I’m
professionally capable, I’m still
professionally young so guidance and a
good feedback relationship with those
senior to me is important so that I can learn
the best professional practice. The partner
responded brusquely: “I’m a busy man, I
don’t have time to be nice, so if you’re
looking for some sort of mentor you’ve
come to the wrong place. I have high
standards and I’ll hold you to them. If you
don’t meet them you’ll soon know about it.
If I suspect you’re not giving me 100% of
your best you’ll soon know about it. Don’t
expect this to be a nice place; it isn’t.” Not
once did he laugh let alone smile. He didn’t
even attempt to relate to me as a person.
What he did ask, more than once, was
whether I regarded myself as an aggressive
person. As the interview progressed I
realised the correct answer would have
been to bare my teeth and snarl.”
Do you think that lawyer likes where he’s
ended up - angry, impatient, aggressive, no
time to be pleasant, no time to help a
younger colleague? He would be the sort of
lawyer who would, when corresponding
with another lawyer, adopt an arrogant,
sneering and superior tone, making
peremptory demands for things to be done
within impossibly short time constraints. He
would be the sort of lawyer who tells his
clients that no-one ever gets the better of
him in a fight. He’d be the sort of lawyer
who fights with the partners in his firm, with
his clients and with his family, if any of
them still speak to him. There are many
lawyers, barristers as well as solicitors, just
like him.
24HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
Where is my young tipstaff going to learn
that professional excellence does not
necessarily come at the expense of
personal happiness? Who would tell the
young law graduate that, far more often
than not, given a certain standard of
intelligence, technical knowledge and
application, professional excellence is far
more likely to be the product of a
well-balanced personal life?
There are many lawyers, like the senior
commercial partner I told you about, who
will tell their impressionable protégés that a
successful practice in the law can give you
a high standard of living; it can give you
kudos amongst your professional
colleagues; it can give you a warm glow of
satisfaction when you win a case or tie up a
successful transaction. They probably won’t
add that the warm glow lasts as long as
five minutes – if you’re lucky. They won’t
say that your legal practice is not a
companion and a solace to you when you
come home late every night to an empty
apartment and you feel that the only way
you can get through the silent hours ahead
is with a drink – or two, or three, or six.
Where is the senior commercial partner of
the prestigious mega-firm who says to the
young graduate: the successful lawyer
makes time for friends, family, relationships
and interests and activities outside the law.
There is no once-and-for-all formula for
time apportionment amongst the pressing
demands of life: each day brings its own
compromises, but the successful lawyer
always prefers the compromises to the
surrenders. The successful lawyer has a
smile and a pleasant word for the office
staff. He or she is always willing to help a
less experienced colleague with advice and
is courteous and reasonable in dealings
with opponents. Not only that, he or she
looks for opportunities to use the law for
more than just his or her own financial gain
– in pro bono work for some cause that
really excites his or her passions.
The tipstaff I told you about was offered a
job by the aggressive partner. He declined
and I’m pleased to say he is now working
for another high profile firm with a partner
he says is cheerful, helpful and
encouraging. After three years in practice
he says he really loves being a lawyer” 22
Why is that kind of lawyer successful?
Because that lawyer does not have a
bitterness in life which infects everything he
or she does in court or in chambers or in
the office. That lawyer is not always looking
for an excuse to pounce on someone and
bite, hoping to spread the infection of
misery. Opponents like that lawyer because
he or she doesn’t make unreasonable
demands and is pleasant to deal with while
being firm in protecting the interest of the
client. Judges like that lawyer because he
or she doesn’t waste time in court on silly
disputes about things that don’t really
matter, just for the sake of having an
argument. And most importantly, clients like
that lawyer and want to keep coming back
because the atmosphere in that lawyer’s
office or chambers always seems
reassuring rather than stressful and the
transactions or cases which that lawyer is
handling seem to have generally successful,
cooperative outcomes rather than becoming
litigious nightmares in which everything
goes wrong at enormous expense. There is
undoubtedly a section of the legal
profession which espouses a culture of
aggression and self-interest. Some may say
that in the legal profession aggression and
self-interest have become embedded and
institutionalised. You might think that, as
teachers, you can do little or nothing when
aggression and self-interest are so firmly
embedded in the culture…
Once you become admitted as a lawyer it is
likely that you have to compete to obtain
your first legal position as (depending upon
your location) there are usually more
graduates than available positions. It may
also take some time before you find a
position which you find rewarding and
satisfying as the above mentioned
Tipstaff did.
Top tier firms tend to prefer to recruit the
universities’ highest achievers and it is
likely that you will require high grades both
in school and at university to secure a
position as a lawyer in a top tier firm. Top
tier firms can receive up to 1,000
applications for each graduate position.
Unless you have connections in the industry
or in a particular firm (whom will personally
recommended you and assist you to secure
your first position) it takes much tenacity
and determination to overcome these odds.
“The Big End of Town seduces and
enslaves our best and brightest, to the
detriment of broader society.” 23
25
Should I get legal work experience
while at university?
How can I find out about
legal positions?
It is advisable to get some legal work
experience whilst still at university. Try
obtaining a position as a paralegal, law
clerk, legal secretary or any other paid
position within a law firm.
Positions are advertised on the internet,24
in newspapers, city weekly magazines, on
cvMail,25 Roll on Friday,26 the College of
Law website, state and territory young
lawyers’ mailing lists and on university
notice boards. Government legal positions
are usually advertised in state newspapers
(e.g. The Sydney Morning Herald) or on the
relevant government websites.
Practical legal experience (whether short or
long term) will provide a realistic insight into
the profession. It will also provide you with
legal contacts, skills and experience which
may assist you to obtain your first position
as a lawyer. You will also be more
employable for future legal positions and/or
be able to distinguish yourself from the
other applicants. Furthermore, provided
you work hard and perform well in that
role you will also have the benefit of a
professional referee.
As well as increasing your future job
prospects, work experience provides a real
insight into a firm’s culture. A firm’s culture
is made up of the people, the style of
management and the psychology, attitudes,
experiences, beliefs and values of the firm.
You will also become familiar with the type
of work the firm does, their clients and the
number of hours you will be expected to
work. If you are unable to obtain a paid
legal position then try to obtain a voluntary
position at a community legal centre or
similar organisation.
26HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
You can also register with online job
websites so that jobs fitting your criteria are
emailed directly to you. Ask your family and
friends if they are aware of any upcoming
suitable positions.
You can also register as a temporary or
casual paralegal or legal secretary, either
directly with a firm or via a legal
recruitment agency.
Barristers’ chambers also hire legal clerks,
receptionists and legal researchers so
contact your local chambers to ask if they
have any potential upcoming positions.
If you decide to contact a firm directly,
research the people and the firm thoroughly
before contacting them. You can research
the firm by browsing their website, speaking
to people who work there or by performing
a Google and/or Australasian Legal
Information Institute (AustLII) 27 search to
find out what cases they have been recently
involved in and the type of work they do.
This will arm you with information to
demonstrate that you are both keen to work
at the firm and that you have a good
understanding of their business.
If you are initially unable to obtain a paid
legal position, consider applying for
voluntary positions within community legal
centres or other non-profit legal
organisations. These positions usually
provide excellent legal opportunities and
experience. Voluntary work is an excellent
way of experiencing new challenges and
providing a valuable service to the
community. A variety of organisations rely
on volunteers and it can be a great way to
build new skills and add to work
experience. For more information see:
www.volunteeringaustralia.org.
What is a Summer Clerkship?
A Summer Clerkship program (Clerkship)
is approximately 11 weeks full-time work
during the summer university holiday, at the
end of your second last year at university.
Clerkships are usually offered
by mid to top tier law firms and they are
a valuable opportunity to obtain work
experience and practice law.
Some firms provide a rotation program
to enable you to gain exposure and work
experience across a broad range of
practice areas.
Ideally you will be provided with a mentor in
each rotation. Students who participate in
clerkships develop a greater understanding
of employment opportunities and legal
experience, whilst adding detail to their
resumes.28 A further benefit is that you
may be offered a graduate or casual/part
time paralegal position upon completion of
the Clerkship.
When should I apply
for a Clerkship?
As many firms recruit their Graduates
directly from their Summer Clerks, it is wise
to apply for a Summer Clerkship. To be
eligible for a Summer Clerkship you must
be in the second last year of your degree. If
studying straight law, this will be your third
year. If completing a double degree, it will
be your fourth. Ordinarily, you must be in
your penultimate (second last) year. The
rules stipulate that you must have at least
TWO but not more than FOUR whole
semesters to complete in order to obtain
your law degree.
Most firms advertise Clerkship positions on
cvMail, an electronic application system
used by law firms around the world to
advertise and process applications for
graduate and Clerkship positions. Make
sure you look at cvMail 29 early in the year
as applications close around February/
March depending on which state or country
you are applying for.
Whilst a strong academic transcript is
undeniably appealing to a prospective
employer, marks alone are not enough to
secure a Summer Clerkship / Graduate
position. Participation in extra-curricular
activities or work experience can give you
skills that are not attainable through mere
study. It is these skills that the law firm will
seek to utilise.
27
What if I don’t get a Clerkship?
Many law students are unsuccessful in
obtaining Clerkship positions as there are
simply not enough places available. If you
are one of the many unsuccessful
candidates don’t become too disheartened.
A Clerkship is not the only way to obtain
legal experience.
“The game of life is a lot like football. You
have to tackle your problems, block your
fears, and score your points when you get
the opportunity.” 30
If your Clerkship application is
unsuccessful, contact the Human
Resources department to seek feedback.
The feedback you receive may assist you
in improving your resume and interview
technique for future applications.
Try to obtain some other form of legal work
experience over the summer university
holidays.
What is a Graduate Position?
Generally speaking Graduate Positions are
two year positions with an opportunity to
rotate through several practice groups.
Ideally, a Graduate position is structured
with the intention of providing you with the
necessary knowledge, skills and practical
experience to help you decide which area of
law you most enjoy and wish to work in. If
you are fortunate enough to be offered
several graduate positions, consider
whether the firm offers a graduate rotation,
or which firm offers the type of work which
you are most interested in or most suited
to. Do not make a decision based purely on
remuneration.
28HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
When should I apply for a
Graduate Position?
This varies between firms, states and
various government departments so check
with the Human Resources department of
the particular firm/organisation within your
first few years of university so you do not
miss out on a graduate opportunity.
Alternatively, check the firm organisation’s
website at least 12 months before
you graduate.
Many firms select graduates from their
Summer Clerks. If you are keen to obtain
a graduate position at a particular firm,
you should apply for a Clerkship to
increase your chances of obtaining a
graduate position.
Even if you have a particular firm in mind,
stay flexible as you may discover that there
are several other firms which are a suitable
fit for you.
Alternatively consider commencing your
career in another firm and then applying to
your preferred firm once you have obtained
a few years experience.
What if I don’t get a
Graduate Position?
If you are unsuccessful in obtaining a
graduate position there other ways of
obtaining legal experience. Many firms
make second round offers when graduates
decline an offer or resign in the first few
months or weeks. Keep in touch with your
contacts in particular firms and maintain an
open line of communication to ensure you
become aware of positions as soon as
they arise.
The game of life is a
lot like football.
You have to tackle
your problems,
block your fears,
and score your points
when you get the
opportunity.
Judges often advertise for graduates when
hiring associates, tipstaffs (tippies) and
researchers. If you are interested in the Bar,
this can be a great opportunity to observe
court etiquette and the judiciary process.
A tipstaff position can provide a valuable
insight into the law from the ‘highest perch’
in the courtroom, and will be invaluable on
your resume.
If you are interested in going to the Bar you
may also consider working as a law clerk
within barristers’ chambers.
Graduates can also apply for temporary
paralegal’s positions through legal
recruiters. Temporary agency work is a
flexible form of employment which may
contain 15% casual leave loading over and
above the average paralegal salaries.
This ‘Contiki tour’ of the top tier firms can
be an insightful experience into the firm
culture and type of work within a particular
firm. If you are working for an agency with a
view to obtaining work at a particular firm
be sure to read the agency agreement
carefully as it may contain a restraint of
trade clause which contractually prevents
you from accepting employment directly
with the firm for a limited amount of time.
If you have exhausted the legal options
consider a quasi-legal job. This is a legal
related job which involves advising on or
working with the law, but is not necessarily
in a law firm, and you are not necessary
employed as a lawyer. For example,
working in-house or working in insurance
companies handling insurance claims or
working as an insurance broker. There are
also similar positions working in
government agencies such as the
Australian Securities and Investment
Commission, Australian Prudent Regulation
Authority, the Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission (ACCC), the NSW
Health Care Complaints Commission or one
of the relevant Ombudsman organisation.
Completing a job application
When applying for a legal position always
include a cover letter with your application
(unless otherwise specified). Your cover
letter should:
• capture the attention of the reader
• summarise your qualifications,
qualifying skills and achievements
promoting the aspects of your
background and experience which are
relevant to the position
• be addressed to the correct contact
person, ensuring you have spelt their
name correctly and used their correct
professional title
• be concise, succinct and accurate not more than one page
29
• be tailored to the selection criteria of the
position and the culture of the firm
• be signed and dated.
For further information and tips on drafting
a successful cover letter refer to career
websites and legal recruitment sites. Your
university careers department may be able
to assist you with drafting cover letters and
preparing for interviews.
Your resume
Your resume is the first impression of you
and any typographical or formatting errors
are likely to deprive you of the opportunity
to secure an interview. Your resume should
set out your education and employment
history in reverse chronological order. On
the front page include brief but specific
achievements that are relevant to the job
you are applying for. Keep it brief with the
most important information on the first
page as the final third of your resume is
often not read and/or absorbed in detail.
Ensure your resume is well structured and
easy to read with plenty of gaps and sub
headings. Use bullet points where possible.
Be concise and highlight particular skills
gained and previous responsibilities which
relate to the particular position you are
applying for.
Research the firm, review their website, be
aware of their culture and values and
criteria and competencies for the position
and make sure that your resume and cover
letter are aligned and relevant to the firm’s
values and culture.
Make sure that you provide evidence of
how you meet the required criteria by
using specific examples drawn from your
experience. You need to convince the
selection panel/person that you have the
necessary skills and capabilities for the job
and that you are the correct match for the
particular team environment. Try to discuss
your achievements and accomplishments in
your previous position instead of simply
listing your skills. You should cite examples
of situations you have faced and describe
in detail your actual involvement in those
situations. One successful way of achieving
this is by applying the following STAR
criteria:
• Situation - provide a very brief outline of
the situation or setting
• Task - outline what you did
• Action - outline how you did it
• Result - describe the outcomes.
Make sure your resume is honest, bearing
in mind you will be questioned on its
content in an interview. Read and proofread
your resume and cover letter for spelling
and grammatical errors. Also ask a reliable
family member, friend, colleague or fellow
student to proofread your cover letter and
resume to identify any errors and to provide
you with constructive feedback.
Research the firm - get the real
picture and match
Put every effort into your applications, and
try to find a firm where the culture and the
type of work suit you.
“When the powerful quality of conscious
choice is present in our work, we can be
enormously productive. When we
consciously choose to do work we enjoy,
not only can we get things done, we can
get them done well and be intrinsically
rewarded for our effort.”31
Make sure you research the firm before
accepting a position and make some discrete
enquiries about the solicitors and partners
you will be reporting to. This will demonstrate
your enthusiasm and commitment to that
particular firm and distinguish you from the
other applicants by impressing interviewers
with your knowledge of the firm, and
demonstrate how keen you are to obtain
that particular position.
Many firms have slogans, defined cultures,
firm values and business plans which can
be obtained on their websites. Law firms
and even individual teams within that firm
can vary widely in their value systems.
Some firms value competitiveness,
individualism, billable hours; others value
employee and client satisfaction; work life
balance; best people and best practice.
Where possible try to secure a position in a
firm whose values are consistent with yours.
It is also important to ensure that the firm’s
written values are actually supported in
their business operations. (Law firms may
attempt to sell themselves to the most
dedicated and highest achieving law
graduates in order to attract them.)
30HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
When the powerful
quality of conscious
choice is present in
our work, we can be
enormously productive.
When we consciously
choose to do work we
enjoy, not only can we
get things done, we can
get them done well and
be intrinsically rewarded
for our effort.
However, slogans and recruitment
brochures are usually compiled by a
marketing or human resources department
which may be out of touch with the reality
of an individual team or firm and the
brochures and slogans may be nothing
more than puffery.
If you are interested in working in a
particular firm (where possible) try to speak
with lawyers from that firm to ask them
about their individual experiences at that
firm. Your colleagues at NSW Young
Lawyers may be able to suggest useful
contacts and other avenues of investigation.
Recruitment agents and/or friends who
have worked or are currently working in the
firm can also provide honest and valuable
information about a firm’s actual culture,
reputation and working environment.
31
Try to get as much information as possible
about the billing requirements and what
exactly is expected of you on a daily basis.
For example you may be told at interview
that you will be required to bill seven hours
a day; however, in reality you may be
expected to partake in many non-billable
duties over and above the seven hour
billable target, such as drafting publications,
attending marketing events and functions,
assisting in interviewing and recruiting
graduates, and participating in pro bono
work. It is important to find out whether or
not these hours are considered as
productive/billed hours. Or if not, whether
these additional contributions are
recognised, rewarded and valued within
that firm, and how.
Do what you love.
Do what makes
your heart sing.
And never do it
for the money.
Don’t go to work
to make money.
Go to work
to spread joy.
Choosing the right firm
post admission
Do not choose your career path or your
first firm based solely on the starting salary,
as often a higher salary may be associated
with greater hours at the office or involve
a specialist practice area. Within private
practice, the general rule of thumb is the
‘the bigger the firm, the longer the hours’.32
Longer hours in big firms are an immense
cause of dissatisfaction to lawyers, with
many lawyers complaining about not
having enough time for themselves and
their families. 33
In a smaller firm you are likely to be
exposed to a wider variety of legal work
and have more responsibility including
carriage of your own files/matters.
“Do what you love. Do what makes your
heart sing. And never do it for the money.
Don’t go to work to make money. Go to
work to spread joy.”34
Ideally you will secure a position in a firm
with an experienced and approachable
supervisor/mentor who will support you and
has the time to help you develop your legal
skills so that you can become a competent
and successful legal practitioner. The right
firm will be the one where you fit into the
firm’s culture and can be yourself, however
this is not always achievable. When
considering whether to accept a legal
position consider the following:
• Will you have any autonomy,
and if so, how much.
• Will you receive a variety of
interesting work.
• Will you be working in a practice area
which interests you.
32HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
• Will you have opportunity for rotation
into different practice areas.
4. Rate of pay and method of pay
(weekly/monthly).
• Is there genuine work life balance
and flexible working arrangements.
5. Whether the salary offer is a package
(i.e. base and superannuation
combined) or a base salary plus
superannuation.
• Will you be required to work very
long hours without a clear link to
performance and pay.
• Does the firm have a reputable culture
and positive working environment.
6. When and if you will be entitled to a
salary increase (particularly if you are
paid junior rates).
• Is there a sufficient informal appraisal
process in place. (A common reason
new lawyers give for leaving a firm is
the lack of positive or constructive
feedback, or abundance of negative
feedback, on performance.)
7. Any leave entitlements, including
maternity/paternity and long
service leave.
• Is there opportunity for career and
professional development, including
training, education (such as funding for
further study), mentoring and personal
development.
9. When you can expect to receive a
written contract of employment.
• The professional reputation of the
person you will be reporting to, including
what they are like to work for.
11.Which Enterprise Agreement or Award
you will be working under (if any).
(There is no applicable award or
agreement for a lawyer.)
Your contract of employment
Before entering into a contract of
employment and accepting your first legal
position you should seek clarification on the
following:
1. Start date.
2. Duties and/or job description.
3. The number of hours you will be
required to work (keep in mind you may
be told that you have to work 9-5, plus
any further hours as required to meet
your clients’ expectations and demands
of the job. In private practice it is
possible that you will spend at least 10
hours a day in the office in order to meet
your billable budget requirements and
the inherent requirements of the role.)
8. Whether you will be employed on a
permanent, part time, temporary or
casual basis.
10.Confirmation of all employment
conditions in writing (including your
next salary review date).
12.The notice requirements of both parties.
Before signing your first contract read it
carefully, taking care not to sign anything
you do not understand.
Do not feel pressured into signing a
contract on the spot. Tell your potential
employer that you want to take the contract
home and that you will return the contract
as soon as practicable.
If you don’t agree with a certain clause in
a contract you can rule a line through the
provision that you don’t agree with and
place your initials in the margin.
33
Your salary
Awards
Superannuation
“Young lawyers calculate that they would
earn more per hour flipping burgers, given
the 60-hour weeks they regularly put in,
complemented by Sunday night ventures
into the office to polish off scraps of work
not finished during the preceding week.” 35
Graduate at Law (State) Award
As a general rule you are entitled to a
minimum of 9% superannuation paid into a
fund of your choice. However, if you are
employed as an independent contractor or
on a contract for services you will not
automatically be entitled to superannuation.
Lawyers’ salaries vary substantially
between large and small firms and between
country and city firms. Mahlab Recruitment,
Naiman Clarke Legal, Hughes-Castell, and
Dolman conduct and publish annual career
and salary surveys for the legal profession.
These surveys list the legal professional
salaries throughout Australia and also on an
international basis. 36
Recent surveys have estimated that in New
South Wales 25% of lawyers earned under
$50,000; 50% earned under $75,000; and
15% earned over $150,000. 37
Larger salaries are likely to be associated
with larger firms who have larger billable
budgets to substantiate the higher salaries.
Certain practice areas may pay higher
salaries too. For example solicitors who
work in Mergers and Acquisitions may be
required to work long unsociable hours to
liaise with international clients. Those who
practice in this area of the law can demand
greater salaries to account for the longer
hours and higher commercial rates charged
by their employers.
34HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
A variation of the Graduate-at-Law (State)
Award shall take effect from the first full
pay period on or after 14 August 2009. The
new total minimum rate per annum for the
Graduate-at-Law (State) Award equates to
$30,418.90.
Secretary / Law Clerk / Paralegal Clerical
and Administrative Employees Legal Industry
(State) Award
The Clerical and Administrative Employees
Legal Industry (State) Award has been
varied in accordance with the State Wage
Case 2009. Under the federal workplace
relations system, minimum wages for
employees are no longer included in
awards. They can now be found in
Australian Pay and Classification Scales,
which form part of the Australian Fair Pay
and Conditions Standard. Further
information, including the current minimum
wage rates can be found on the Australian
Fair Pay website.38
If you have previous superannuation
policies but are unsure of the name or
policy number of your previous fund contact
the Australian Taxation Office
Superannuation Line on 131 020.
If you have had previous casual and
part-time positions it is likely that you
have several superannuation funds.
To do this, obtain and complete a rollover
form from your current superannuation
fund of choice. Rolling over your
superannuation will:
Young lawyers calculate
that they would earn
more per hour flipping
burgers, given the
60-hour weeks they
regularly put in,
complemented by
Sunday night ventures
into the office to polish
off scraps of work not
finished during the
preceding week.
• minimise the risk of you losing your
superannuation
• minimise administration fees you are
likely to be charged
• help you keep track of your
superannuation as it is all in one place
• minimise the statements you
will receive.
35
Obtaining a postgraduate position
Once you have graduated you may also like
to consider contacting legal recruitment
firms.
Recruiters are paid a commission by the
firms to find someone who can fill a vacant
position; therefore, they do not charge you
any fees. They can also be valuable sources
of ‘inside’ information and if they like you,
and/or think you are an appropriate
candidate, being the right fit for the
position, they will work very hard in selling
you to the firm and assisting you to secure
the position.
Do not rely solely on recruiters as the
commissions for more senior positions are
far more attractive than those paid for
placing junior or graduate lawyers. Do not
be surprised if recruiters do not take an
immediate interest but persist in being
listed on their books. It is useful to build a
relationship with a reputable recruiter who
can serve as a touchstone for salary
negotiations and possible opportunities later
in your career.
Be aware of being pigeon-holed. If you are
unsure of the area of practice you want to
specialise in don’t stay in a position you
don’t enjoy for years as you will find it
increasingly difficult to transfer practice
areas. Legal recruiters have an unfortunate
reputation for pigeon-holing candidates.
While it can be difficult to jump practice
areas, with persistence, it can be achieved,
but you will need to go to great lengths to
convince the employer of your transferable
skills, capabilities and ability to meet the
selection criteria.
36HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
When moving from a small firm to a large
firm, some solicitors have reported that the
larger firm expressed concern about
whether solicitors in smaller firms receive
adequate mentoring or exposure to
advanced business systems. For these
reasons, if you do eventually want to move
into a larger firm, make sure you try and
make the transition within the first two to
three years of practice.
Is size important?
A bigger firm does not necessarily mean
you will be a better practitioner. For
example, you may be required to peruse
discovered documents for 6-12 months and
not receive much experience at all. However,
this is not always the case as the larger
firms have better administrative support and
technical systems and support, all of which
will increase your productivity. For example,
you will have a secretary who will do the
administrative non-legal tasks, a word
processing department who can type your
dictations and a librarian to conduct your
legal research tasks.
Small firms
Smaller firms can either be generalist (as in
practice in lots of areas, e.g. family,
criminal, conveyancing) or boutique
(specialise in one area, e.g. tax). You will
often have greater responsibility, a broader
range of experience and be more likely to
receive advocacy experience and more
client exposure in a smaller firm. You will be
working in a smaller team and are more
likely to receive one-on-one training. Small
firms are generally less rigid and many
permit lawyers to work more flexible
schedules. The retention rate is greater
in small firms.
You are likely to be given more responsibility
and get a greater diversity of experience.
Smaller firms have comparatively smaller
salaries. They generally demand fewer
billable hours and as a result you are likely
to have more work life balance and spend
fewer hours at the office.
Mid-Tier firms
Mid-tier firms are the healthy median
between small firms and top-tier firms.
You will likely be given a higher salary than
in a small firm, but may be expected to bill
more hours. You will have less autonomy
but the matters you work on are likely to be
more specialised and complex. Mid-tier
firms have many of the benefits of larger
firms, such as mentoring, training and
other perks, but still have a smaller,
friendlier environment.
Top-Tier firms
You are likely to require a degree with
honours to obtain a position in a top-tier
firm. However, if you don’t get high grades,
once you have a few years experience or
have developed a good professional
reputation your grades matter substantially
less when applying for legal positions.
Top-tier is generally used to describe the
leading professional services firms. Top-tier
firms are obviously impressive on your
resume. Just because you do not initially
obtain a position in a top-tier firm does not
mean that you will not be able to secure a
position at the firm of your choice later once
you have obtained 2-3 years post
admission experience (PAE or PQE), if this is
your goal.
Top-tier firms will have more structure/
hierarchy and may offer more training and
mentoring opportunities. However, this is not
always the case and you may be overlooked
and/or utilised for large discovery tasks
which may take up to 12 months.
Generally speaking top-tier firms pay higher
salaries, require longer hours and more
demanding billable budgets. You are less
likely to have autonomy or responsibility for
files for the first few years of your practice.
Career progression may be structured and
slower. The work is often more specialised;
however, there may be opportunities to
move practice group and practise in
different areas if you request a transfer and
the firm wishes to retain you.
“Why is that so many of the smartest
people in Australia get to their 30s and
realise that doing everything ‘right’ has
made for an existence they never really
wanted? The Pin Striped Prison is a funny,
frightening look at how big firms seduce
brilliant students into joining the corporate
world, with all its perks and excesses, and
at what happens next. Crazy work hours
swallow these young professionals’ lives,
just as dry cleaning, taxis and take-away
food swallow their large salaries. And by
the time they discover their work is
fundamentally boring, they are usually
captives of the debts they’ve incurred to get
a lifestyle that will compensate them for
their life.” 39
37
Why is that so many of
the smartest people in
Australia get to their 30s
and realise that doing
everything ‘right’ has
made for an existence
they never really wanted?
Working in a firm is only one option for the
new lawyer. Some other options are:
Criminal law
• Work for yourself. However, Restricted
Practising Certificate (a period of
supervised legal practice, usually for
two years of employment and/or
supervision by a practitioner with an
unrestricted Practising Certificate), is
required for all solicitors prior to being
eligible for an unrestricted Practising
Certificate to enable you to practice as
a sole practitioner, partner in a law firm,
or the solicitor with supervisory
responsibility in a corporation or
government department.40 Obtaining
clients while competing with large firms
is the most difficult aspect of this route.
In-house lawyers
This option is not recommended until
you have obtained at least two years
post admission experience and you
have obtained your Unrestricted
Practising Certificate.
• Work for the government.
• Work for a corporate entity as an
in-house counsel. You advise on legal
matters and practice to a certain extent.
You have a guaranteed client, but it’s
always the same one.
• Lecture and tutor at law school.
Ultimately, you can, if you have the
expertise and the tenure, be elected to a
judgeship. However, judges at many levels
of the judiciary system are elected positions
and have all the drawbacks you might
expect from an elected position. Still,
being a judge is widely considered by
legal practitioners to be the pinnacle
of the profession.
38
There is a division within the practice area
of litigation: criminal or civil. A criminal
litigator can work either for the government
by representing the state (as a Crown
Solicitor or public prosecutor), or
representing the accused as a criminal
defence lawyer.
Some companies employ their own legal
team to work for the company rather than
sending the work out to firms. This is called
working in-house. The head of the legal
team is usually the General Counsel and he
or she will have a team of lawyers working
with them. One of the advantages of
working in-house is that it is unlikely that
you will be required to record your time on
a time sheet. The work is usually varied and
can range from highly specialised, with little
variety, to a whole range of commercial
legal issues. In-house legal teams tend to
be smaller and more close-knit.
You are likely to gain an intimate knowledge
of the business and often opportunities
arise to move into management and more
senior quasi-legal roles. A disadvantage of
moving in-house early in your career, is that
it may limit your future career prospects if
you want to go into private practice or other
fields of law.
Larger companies which use multiple panel
firms can provide a path into a larger panel
firm in later years. In-house is becoming
increasingly popular as companies try to
reduce legal costs. Increasingly large
companies are keeping more interesting
work in-house and where in-house teams
used to act as managers of panel firms,
many in-house lawyers now run matters for
the company, with the assistance of
external firms as required. In-house has the
added benefits of company perks, such as
a company car, as well as dramatically
reduced working hours (compared to
litigation and transactional corporate roles
in private practice).
Government positions
Some government departments outsource
their legal requirements to law firms and
others have in-house lawyers. There are
many benefits of working for the
government including flexibility, good
working hours/flexitime and a good salary.
The application process is pretty nasty
though so be prepared to brush up on your
HR jargon and essay writing skills.
The Bar
You can go straight from your degree to the
Bar but it isn’t advisable. As a barrister, you
work for yourself so in order to make it a
viable business, you need a pool of solicitors
that will send work your way. It is normally
best to work as a solicitor for a while and
build up your reputation and client base
before taking the plunge. It is great,
however, in that you are your own boss so
you can choose your own hours. That said,
many barristers work longer hours than
solicitors! It is a big financial gamble and
you are likely to lose money at least in your
first year and possibly longer. There is a
large amount of administrative work and
non-billable hours which barristers must put
into their practice, including networking and
developing legal knowledge that should also
be taken into consideration. That said, if
you are successful at the Bar, it can be
very lucrative.
39
two
YOUR FIRST
YEARS IN PRACTICE
two
YOUR FIRST
years in practice
Probation
The primary purpose of probation is to allow
an employer to assess an employee’s
suitability for employment. It is an important
tool available to help employers manage the
risk that the person they employed may not
in fact be capable of performing the job, or
may even be the wrong personality match.41
Most firms employing new lawyers require
a period of probation, typically either three
or six months. During your probation period
your performance will be measured against
the roles and responsibilities of the position.
Make sure you are fully aware of the
expectations against which your
performance will be measured (both job
specific and more generally) including
whether there is a formal appraisal program
and if so, what the appraisal criteria are and
when it will occur so that you can work
towards achieving your appraisal goals and
requirements and successfully complete the
probationary period.
Your employment can be lawfully terminated,
usually without notice (subject to the terms
and conditions of your contract of
employment) if you fail to achieve the
required expectations.
Building relationships
with your supervisor
Every time you work for a particular
partner/supervisor, they are likely to be
analysing your capabilities and your skills. It
is their role as a supervisor to supervise
you and (ideally) provide you with feedback
on your performance including the ways in
which you can improve your practice.
Unfortunately, as your supervisor may be
under a lot of pressure to get their own
work done, this type of feedback is often
lacking. A common reason new lawyers
give for leaving a firm is the lack of
feedback, or receiving only negative
feedback on performance.
In order to avoid problems
when you receive a task from
a supervisor, make sure you
understand exactly what is required,
the facts surrounding the task, the
purpose, the deadline and an
approximate number of hours to be
spent on the task. It is advisable to
take notes when you are receiving
instructions, so that when you come to
complete the task (which may be some
days later) you can refresh your
memory as to what exactly you are
required to do. After speaking with your
supervisor, repeat the instructions back
to them to avoid any confusion on what
you are expected to do.
The
everyday
life
of a
miserable
lawyer
consists of
plenty of
drinking,
endless
lunches
and
constant
inner
turmoil.
42
43
two
YOUR FIRST
years in practice
If you are unclear as to what you are
required to do, do not be afraid to ask for
further instructions. It is better that you
perform the task as efficiently as possible
without exposing yourself or the firm to risk.
If the task is completed incorrectly, your
supervisor may have to write off your time
which may have an impact on you meeting
your budget requirements and may
ultimately affect your salary negotiations
during your annual appraisal. It is better
to ask your questions up front even if you
feel foolish, than waste time completing
the task incorrectly.
Your supervisor is human. They will have
good days and bad days. If possible, try to
learn the indicators of when they are having
a good, bad or stressful day. Once you have
worked out their idiosyncrasies, you can
improve your working relationship by only
approaching them at appropriate and/or
convenient times, thus minimising their
stress and managing both their time and
yours. (This is particularly important if you
are delivering bad news.)
When you start, your supervisor will be
observing/supervising you to see if you can
be relied upon to complete tasks promptly,
efficiently and accurately. It is vital to prove
your trustworthiness during this time
otherwise they may lose confidence in you,
and be less likely to give you further work.
If you gain their trust by consistently
delivering a high level of quality work on
time, they will come to trust your judgment
and you will develop and foster a positive
working relationship.
If your supervisor gives you something
really unpleasant to do, do it well, do it on
time and do it with a smile on your face.
They are probably aware that it is difficult
or unpleasant; they may even be testing
you! The same goes for situations where
you are questioned on your legal reasoning
or work. If you can provide logical answers
and demonstrate an awareness of what you
have done and why, you will prove yourself
to be a diligent and reliable team member.
Do not be afraid to speak up and give your
point of view but ensure that you provide
the correct information. It is embarrassing
to vehemently argue a point of view to
discover you have been relying on
something incorrect.
If you make a mistake, own up to it
immediately so that the appropriate action
can be taken by your supervisor. Ideally,
research a way in which the mistake can be
rectified, so that you can approach your
supervisor with the mistake and the remedy.
Far better to own up early, advise the client
that there has been a problem, make an
apology and explain what you are doing to
remedy that problem rather than deal with
a formal complaint to the Office of the Legal
Services Commissioner. However
embarrassing the short-lived humiliation,
it is better than a permanent mark on
your record and perhaps a civil suit
for negligence.
The public, more often
than not, will forgive
mistakes, but it will not
forgive trying to wriggle
and weasel out of one.
“The public, more often than not, will forgive
mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to
wriggle and weasel out of one.”43
You will have varying levels of supervision in
your earlier years. One level of supervision is
the signing of mail, faxes, emails etc. Ensure
that you understand your signing authority.
Other levels of supervision include regular
meetings with your supervisor to check on
progress of your files and/or workload.
Some firms produce matter reports each
month which may require you to provide a
progress report to your supervisor. Some
clients require written monthly status
reports. Some larger clients require a
particular format or style for letters and
reports. Make sure you familiarise yourself
with the client’s individual requests so that
you can comply with their requirements
and deadlines.
45
two
YOUR FIRST
years in practice
Your Secretary
Secretaries, receptionists, office managers
and other administrative people are the
backbone of an organisation. They are a
valuable source of assistance and can
provide useful inside information about the
daily running of your team and the firm. It is
also possible that your secretary will have
been at the firm for many years and be very
familiar with the firm’s IT and operating
systems and protocol, the clients and the
individual personalities and temperaments
of the staff.
Secretaries can tell you how things work,
how to improve and manage your work
and your workplace relationships. They
can also provide you with useful hints on
what is expected of you and any special
requirements and/or personality traits which
your supervisors may have. Treat them in a
professional manner at all times and with
the respect and consideration they deserve.
Make sure you utilise your secretary wisely
and do not abuse or over work them. Try to
place yourself in their shoes and treat them
in the professional and courteous manner
that you would expect others to treat you.
Communicate with your secretary, ask them
what tasks they can do, what their
preferences are and which tasks they are
unfamiliar with or cannot perform.
Be mindful that your secretary is likely to
have other tasks to do for other employees.
It is likely that, as the most junior, you will
not be the top priority and neither will
your work.
Try and plan ahead to give your secretary
as much notice as possible about tasks
that need doing. Be sure to give detailed,
specific instructions and let them know
when you need the task to be completed so
that they too can manage their workloads
and plan ahead. Being courteous to your
secretary will reflect well on you. They are
likely to provide feedback to your
supervisors.
If there are problems, do not pull the
seniority card, or order them about. If
there is a problem, at first instance, speak
with them about it, and only if absolutely
necessary discuss it with your supervisor or
the human resources department.
Do not rely on the secretary to do things
correctly. Any work produced by your
secretary is your responsibility. You are
ultimately responsible if documents are
incorrect or the wrong document goes to
the wrong person.
When dictating or settling correspondence,
ensure that the content and language are
professional and that you have adhered to
the firm’s policies and style guides. Check
the addressee and address on the email or
fax to ensure it is accurately dispatched
and no privileged or confidential information
is sent to the wrong person.
Secretaries
can tell
you how
things
work,
how to
improve
and
manage
your
work
and
your
workplace.
Make sure you check everything thoroughly
as it is your professional responsibility to
oversee their work.
47
two
YOUR FIRST
18
TIME
MANAGEMENT
TIPS
to make life as a lawyer a little bit easier
years in practice
Meeting your billable budget
One of the most difficult challenges of
being a junior lawyer is developing an
efficient work system so that you can
meet your billable targets and efficiently
complete your tasks. This will make for a
more enjoyable working life if you can finish
work at a reasonable hour. This requires
organisation, planning and effective use
of systems and resources.
“The amount of satisfaction you get from life
depends largely on your own ingenuity, self
sufficiency and resourcefulness. People who
wait around for life to supply their
satisfaction usually find boredom instead.” 44
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Make use of all of the resources available to you.
11
Use a Dictaphone whenever possible.
Delegate whenever possible.
Use administrative resources where possible.
12
Complete your timesheet following every task and
where possible keep your clock on whilst you are
working on a matter. This will avoid inaccurate time
recording.
Prioritise tasks that cannot wait. If you have more than
you can achieve in one day, do the tasks that must be
completed on that day.
Stay focused. It pays to take a regular break. Get a
coffee; take a quick walk; whatever you need to do to
re-energise your body and revitalise your concentration. It will be time well spent. Have a small bottle of
water near your desk so you are forced to get up and
go to the kitchen more frequently.
Balance your large and small tasks on a daily basis. If
you spend a whole day completing lots of little tasks on
many different files, you may have worked very hard
and efficiently all day, but yet only have a couple of
billable hours on your timesheet at the end of the day.
If you balance out the day with a mixture of larger and
smaller tasks you will find that meeting your billable
target is easier as you are not wasting time shuffling
and switching between files.
Balance the time units on your large and small tasks.
If you are given a task, ask the supervisor how long it
should take you. Once you’ve spent the allocated time
on the task, tell your supervisor that it may take more
time than originally anticipated and give your reasons
why. This will reduce the incidence of having your time
written off.
It is your responsibility to know the critical dates in a
matter. It is also your responsibility to use a system that
reminds you of them. If you have to attend court,
diarise the next Court attendance in your electronic
calendar, or manually in a diary which you check on a
daily basis. Make sure you set a reminder to remind
you of the appearance a few days in advance so you
can undertake any necessary preparation.
13
14
15
Do not try to be a superhero and work around the
clock. You will be tired, less productive and more
likely to make mistakes. You will also be creating
unrealistic and unsustainable expectations, and in
the long-term, even putting your health at risk.
Do not take on further tasks unless you have the
capacity to complete them. Only take on new tasks
if you can complete them within the given
timeframe. Where appropriate, tactfully say “no” and
offer an alternative. If tasks are continually being
rescheduled, review the amount of work you have
and talk to your supervisor about it, otherwise the
rescheduled task will not only become urgent but it
could become a problem and end up in the “too
hard basket” – a lawyer’s nightmare.
16
17
If you receive a new task that you are unable to
immediately complete, speak to the lawyer and ask
them when the work needs to be completed. If you
are unable to complete the task within the time
frame, you must communicate this to your
instructing lawyer so that they can delegate the task
to another lawyer.
Plan ahead and make sure you always have enough
work to meet your budget. Ideally, you will have a
number of tasks in your in-tray at any one time. If
you do not have enough work for the next few days,
send an email to your team advising that you have
capacity, or go door knocking on solicitors who have
given you work previously and let them know that
you have capacity. It may take them a few days to
find an appropriate task, so it is always advisable to
plan a few days ahead.
Keep a ‘to do’ list, whether electronic or manual.
You can use one of several strategies. For example
there is an electronic task list in Microsoft office, or
you can use the Microsoft office calendar and rank
your work in order of priority. You may even have a
Blackberry or a calendar in your mobile phone
which you may prefer to use, or use as a back up.
Then allocate matters into a time frame for the day.
It will not always be possible to keep to the planned
timetable as unexpected matters or tasks will
emerge. However, by doing the plan, at least you
have some control. Transfer incomplete work to the
next day’s ‘to do’ list using a similar system for
review and rescheduling.
18
Work on more complex tasks when you are at your
most productive. If you work less effectively early in
the morning, use this time to do the non-urgent but
important work. If you are a morning person and an
urgent matter can wait until later in the day, deal with
the more difficult matters when you are fresh. Break
down complicated matters into easy to do segments.
Do not procrastinate and not start a task because it
appears to be too difficult. This will only increase your
stress levels and increase the likelihood of you
missing a valuable deadline, or worse still completing
the task in a last minute panic and making a mistake.
It is an unfortunate fact of life that most practitioners
will at some point be faced with a file they simply
cannot face. When this happens the situation can feed
on itself, causing more stress – the factor which may
have caused the freeze in the first place. The longer
the file is avoided the more difficult it can be to
address. In one example, the practitioner acknowledged that they should have progressed the matter but
weeks passed while the file grew colder and the
matter delayed further. In many instances the
practitioner watched the situation snowball to the point
where it seemed impossible to be remedied. In an
extreme case, after years of handling a personal injury
matter a practitioner paid compensation from their
own pocket rather than admit to the client they failed
to lodge the matter with a court. If the file freeze is
caused by other factors, take advantage of the
services offered by Law Care or Bar Care.45 The
longer you leave it, the harder that file becomes. Often,
once you start what appears to be a daunting task, it is
not quite as bad as you imagined. Breaking it in to
many little tasks can also help make it less daunting.
Look out for yourself. Review any print-out recording
your time in financial reports or as a basis for billing
clients to ensure that your time has been properly
recorded in the firm’s records.
49
two
YOUR FIRST
years in practice
Should I record everything
on my time sheet?
“If you follow reason far enough
it always leads to conclusions
that are contrary to reason.”46
The answer is yes, absolutely. Junior
lawyers report that they do not record all
their time as they think they are spending
too much time on a particular task.
However, this practice should be avoided for
the following reasons:
1. You may be working very long hours but
this is not evident and supervisors may
assume that you are not committed.
2. The firm is not able to realistically
assess how long matters take and what
should be charged to the client.
3. Opportunities to remedy inefficiencies
are lost.
4. Training or professional development
opportunities are not recognised.
5. Inefficient delegation strategies are
allowed to continue.
The only solution is to record all time spent
unless you are specifically advised
otherwise by your supervisor.
Finally, ensure that your time record sheets
are delivered on time to the right person
and/or posted to an electronic system.
Your first court attendance
Going to court for the first time on your own
can be very daunting. Below are a few tips
general to the various courts which may
be helpful:
• Make sure you arrive at court early, as
you may encounter delays in accessing
the building due to increased security
measures and waiting for an elevator.
• Make sure you are appropriately
dressed. Magistrates/Registrars do not
take kindly to casual dress in the
courtroom. A suit and tie for men and a
suit/dress and suit jacket for women.
• Make sure you are familiar with the file.
If you are provided with a file you are
unfamiliar with, skim-read the latest
report on the file, the pleadings, the
latest correspondence between the
parties and the orders from the previous
directions hearing.
• Before entering the courtroom ensure
your mobile phone is switched off or
on silent.
• Bow to the bench on entering the
courtroom if the Judge or Magistrate is
on the bench.
• Never put your handbag or umbrella on
the bar table.
• Speak and address the court with a
good strong voice. Try to appear
confident and relaxed.
• Refer to the Magistrate or Judge as
‘Your Honour’; Registrar as ‘Registrar’.
(If you are unsure, their titles can be
located on the daily court list, which you
can find online, or in the foyer of the
court on the morning.)
50
• Announce yourself by saying, “My name
is (surname only) and I appear for the
first defendant (for example)”. If you are
not yet admitted, say, “My name is
(surname only) and I appear with leave
for the first defendant (for example)”.
If mentioning the matter on behalf of
another party, simply add to the above,
“I also mention the matter on behalf of
the plaintiff (for example)”.
• Try to prepare consent orders before
attending the court for a directions
hearing.
• Make sure you stand when addressing
the court or when the Judge or
Magistrate is addressing you specifically
and sit down when your opponent is
speaking. Only one person at the bar
table should ever be standing at once.
• If the next matter is called and there is
no appearance, you must remain seated
or at the bar table until there is an
appearance by another party or the
court excuses you.
• If your matter is the final matter, you
should wait until the court has been
adjourned or you are excused.
• In the event you are put on the spot and
the Magistrate/Registrar/Judge asks
your opinion or seeks instructions from
you which you do not have, ask the
court for an adjournment or to stand the
matter down in the list so that you can
obtain instructions from your instructing
solicitor or your client.
• In the event that you have been given
adequate notice before attending the
court, we recommend that you refer to
the College of Law papers.
The amount of
satisfaction
you get from
life depends
largely on
your own
ingenuity, self
sufficiency
and resourcefulness.
People who
wait around
for life to
supply their
satisfaction
usually find
boredom
instead.
51
two
YOUR FIRST
years in practice
Appraisal
Make a note of all your achievements as
you complete your matters so that you can
readily refer to them during appraisal time.
You will be amazed at how much you have
accomplished since you started!
Keep copies of any emails showing positive
feedback from your supervisor.
Sell yourself at annual performance reviews.
Most firms review employee performance at
set times during the year. If you are really
doing a good job, you and your supervisor
will have the opportunity to note this in the
review and hopefully you will be
renumerated accordingly the following year.
Supervised Legal Practice
A period of supervised legal practice is
required for solicitors with a restricted
Practising Certificate. This basically means
that a solicitor must be employed and/or
supervised by a practitioner with an
unrestricted Practising Certificate, usually
for two years.
52
HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
Generally, a solicitor with an unrestricted
Practising Certificate is a sole practitioner,
partner in a law firm, or the solicitor with
supervisory responsibility in a corporation
or government department.47
Gaining an unrestricted
Practising Certificate
After two years of continuous full-time
supervision on a restricted Practising
Certificate, you can apply to have this
condition removed. Detailed information on
the application process can be found in the
Supervised Legal Practice Guidelines. Your
application will be considered by the Law
Society’s Licensing Committee.
The Committee meets about 10 times a
year and there are strict lodgment dates
for the meetings. 48
Why apply for an unrestricted
Practising Certificate?
The Law Society of New South Wales
recommends that solicitors apply as soon
as they qualify, regardless of their current
intentions, in order to facilitate future career
development. For example, lifting condition
2 from your Practising Certificate is the first
step towards gaining a certificate that
allows practise as a sole practitioner, partner
in a firm, or solicitor on the record. 49
53
how to deal
with a
difficulitsor
superv
If you aren’t coping, make sure you speak
up! This goes for too much work, too much
stress, or simply not coping with a difficult
supervisor. Talk to someone in the human
resources department or seek counselling
with a member of the employee assistance
program (EAP) (if your firm has one).
Nothing will improve if you don’t let
someone know that there is a problem.
Abuse, bullying, swearing, harassment and
insults are not acceptable and should be
reported. Speak up immediately so that
something can be done about it, such as
transferring to another team. If you are
unable to have the situation resolved, it
may be necessary to leave the position.
However, abstain from speaking badly of a
previous supervisor when attending future
interviews. It is acceptable however, and
even advisable, to be completely honest
during your exit interview with the firm you
are leaving, provided you have a colleague
who can be your professional referee.
For further information refer to Bullying,
Harassment on pages 66-68.
Stress
management
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Starting practice can be a very stressful
time in your legal career as you are
developing your legal skills (including
research, drafting, writing, problem solving,
negotiation and communication), building
relationships with clients and colleagues etc.
The transition from being a law student to
becoming a lawyer is huge. For example,
you have to develop familiarity with:
how can i am
tell if i
?
d
e
s
s
e
r
t
s
1 You may have problems sleeping.
2 You may feel out of control.
3 You may get moody or depressed.
4 You often feel irritable and annoyed.
5 You may make mistakes.
6 You may feel nervous and on edge.
7 You may be easily distracted.
8 You may be anxious and experience
negative thoughts.
9 You may have trouble concentrating
and your brain is overloaded with
thoughts about work and what needs
to be done.
• the uniform civil procedure legislation
and other legal procedures
• the firm’s office policies procedures,
politics and systems
• dealing with the people in the firm
• understanding the firm’s goals and
value system.
54HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
55
i
n
a
c
w
ho
e
c
u
d
rreess
?
st
the effect of
Without adding anything new to your life, below
are some day-to-day things you can do that will
significantly improve your mood and aid in stress
management:
•Keep in contact with your friends and family.
doing your hobbies, playing sport,
•Keep
whatever it is that makes you happy. This sounds
like common sense but it is surprisingly easy to
get caught up with work and just forget to make
time for this. You need to make sure you keep
your life or you will not be happy at work and
won’t be rested enough to do a good job.
In order to manage and control stress you need
to learn to recognise when you are becoming
stressed and how to control it.
Time management can help to reduce and
control stress. Effective stress management
involves learning to set limits and saying “no” to
activities or work that you really do not have
time to undertake.
Regular exercise can reduce your physiological
reaction to stress. It also strengthens your heart
and increases the blood supply to it, directly
affecting your vulnerability to heart disease.
enough sleep, eat a balanced diet and drink
•Get
plenty of water – three small things that can
make a big difference to how you feel during
the day and how you work. Practising law is
hard enough without disadvantaging yourself
by being tired and dehydrated.
the office at lunch. Unless you have
•Leave
something that just cannot wait another
minute, leave the office and take your full
hour lunch break. If you stay in and work
through thinking you can leave earlier, it
won’t happen. Take the full hour, recharge,
get some air and you will come back more
productive and do better quality work.
Techniques for stress management may include
some of the following:
•Meditation
•Deep breathing
•Relaxation techniques
– for example walking, boxing,
•Exercise
Pilates, yoga, swimming
•Aromatherapy
•Avoiding alcohol and other drugs
•Natural medicine
•Time management
to certain types of music,
•Listening
particularly New Age music, classical music,
or whatever music helps you to relax.
56
Maintaining control of stress has the
following benefits:
You feel calmer and more relaxed.
You react to stressful events with
greater control.
Your sleep patterns improve.
You have a greater sense of well-being.
You feel less anxious.
You have a sense of fulfilment
and purpose.
Your self-confidence improves.
Your work quality and efficiency improves.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
sytourrehseaslth
on
Small to moderate levels of stress can
motivate you into action and increase your
productivity. The pressures and demands
may assist in meeting deadlines and help
keep you motivated and interested in your
job, making the day go quicker.
“Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will
be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be
sufficient for the day.” 51
Research from Harvard University shows
that work stress is as harmful to
health as smoking or not
exercising and don’t think you
are doing your boss a favour by
putting up with it. 52
Too much pressure can have a
negative impact on your
productivity and your health.
High levels of stress over long
periods of time can lead to
feelings of anger, nervous
related conditions, elevated
blood pressure, headaches,
heart disease, digestive
problems and strokes. It may also
intensify symptoms in diseases that
have an auto-immune component,
such as rheumatoid arthritis, and
affect headaches and irritable bowel
syndrome. There are now suggestions of
links between stress and cancer, not to
mention decreased productivity and
greater workplace errors.
57
BURNOUT
The link between stress and heart disease
is well-established. If stress is intense, and
stress hormones are not ‘used up’ by
physical activity, our raised heart rate and
high blood pressure put tension on arteries
and cause damage to them. As the body
heals this damage, artery walls scar and
thicken, which can reduce the supply of
blood and oxygen to the heart.
Stress has also been found to weaken the
immune system, which explains why we
catch more colds when we are stressed.
Stress is also associated with mental
health problems and, in particular, anxiety
and depression. Here the relationship is
fairly clear: negative thinking associated
with stress also contributes to mental
health issues.
When under pressure, some people are
more likely to drink heavily or smoke as a
way of getting immediate chemical relief
from stress. You may have so much work to
do that you do not exercise or eat properly.
You may not make time to see your friends
or more importantly visit the doctor or
dentist when you need to. You may cut
down on sleep, or worry so much that you
sleep poorly. All of these factors are likely
to be harmful to health.
58
Burnout is a very real threat to people in
challenging and stressful jobs. The feelings
of tiredness and disillusionment that come
with burnout, causing great unhappiness,
can spell the end of otherwise promising
and emotionally rewarding careers.
Where excessive workload is the problem,
review your management of time and
delegate tasks to other people where you
can. Consider whether you are being too
accommodating or trying to be a superhero.
Let your mentor/supervisor know that you
have too much work to do. Politely turn
down new work that is offered to you.
Improved assertiveness may help you do
this in a positive way. It is important to learn
to say “no” to commitments that you do not
have time for.
It is best to deal with burnout at the onset
rather than compounding the problem by
just trying to “push through it”. Utilise the
support systems around you to minimise
your extra workload. Also talk to family or
friends and discuss strategies for dealing
with the problem. If you have saved up
some annual leave, look at taking some
time off. Even taking unpaid leave may be a
better option than continuing to work and
making the problem worse. Some law firms
provide Employee Assistance Programs
which offer free confidential counselling.
If yours doesn’t, the Law Society provides
some alternatives.
where to go
for
HELP
The Law Society recognises that your
profession often puts you under enormous
pressure. LawCare gives you and your
immediate family members access to a
professional counsellor for strictly
confidential advice on personal or emotional
issues that may be interfering with your
work performance or family life. Initial
assessment and referrals by phone are free
of charge. Costs will only be incurred for
face-to-face consultations and much of this
can be claimed back through Medicare or
private health cover for clinically relevant
medical conditions. To speak to a
professional, call 0416 200 788.53
depression and other
mental related illness
“I have been on this road for a long time
now. At times it seems like the road is never
gonna end. On this road there’s a lotta hills
and mountains, peaks and valleys, even a
lot of potholes on this road. It’s never
smooth, on this road of life.” 54
A study conducted on the general
population shows that 6.3 per cent suffer,
or have suffered, from depression and
associated symptoms such as anxiety.55
A sample study of 7,551 professionals
showed the same result for an astonishing
15.2 per cent of lawyers. 56 This is more
than double!
I have been on this
road for a long time now.
At times it seems like the
road is never gonna end.
On this road there’s a
lotta hills and mountains,
peaks and valleys, even a
lot of potholes on this
road. It’s never smooth,
on this road of life.
How can I
distinguish
depression from
an occasional
‘down’ mood?
Depression is a common experience.
We have all felt ‘depressed’ about
misunderstandings in our relationships with
friends and family, missing a deadline, or
being spoken to in a harsh manner.
Sometimes we feel down for no discernable
reason at all. To determine whether you are
actually suffering from clinical depression,
you should check whether:
• the mood state is severe
• it lasts for two weeks or more, or
• it interferes with your ability to function
at home or at work.
59
F
SYMPTOMS O
DEPRESSION
@ !! # &
Signs of a depressed mood include:
1 Lowered self esteem (or self worth).
2 Changes in sleep patterns, insomnia or broken sleep.
3 Changes in appetite or weight.
4 Less ability to control emotions such as pessimism,
anger, guilt, irritability and anxiety.
5 Varying emotions throughout the day, for example, feeling
worse in the morning and better as the day progresses.
6 Reduced capacity to experience pleasure: you can’t
enjoy what’s happening now, nor look forward to
anything with pleasure.
7 Hobbies and interests drop off.
8 Reduced pain tolerance.
9 You are less able to tolerate aches and pains and may have
a host of new ailments.
10 Changed sex life: absent or reduced.
11 Poor concentration and memory: some people are
so impaired that they believe they have a
cognitive impairment.
12 Reduced motivation: it doesn’t seem worth the effort
to do anything, things seem meaningless.
13 Lowered energy levels.57
60
61
i seek
w h e n s h o u l df o r
p
l
e
h
depression ?
If you display several of the symptoms
described on the previous page, they
persist on a daily basis for two weeks or
longer and interfere with your ability to
manage at home and/or at work, then you
might benefit from getting an assessment
by a skilled professional.
Having one of these symptoms, by
themselves, is unlikely to indicate
depression. However, there could be other
causes which may warrant you seeking a
medical opinion.
If you would like more information on
depression and anxiety there are many
organisations that provide free and
confidential information and assistance.
Beyond Blue provides comprehensive
online information on signs and symptoms
of depression and anxiety. Their website
address is www.beyondblue.org.au or you
can contact their information line on
1300 224 636 for the cost of a local call.
There are also resources more
specifically for lawyers such as the
Mental Health Link, which can be
accessed at www.mhl.org.au.
UTS Counselling Self Help Resources –
For Fact Sheets on overcoming
procrastination, dealing with loneliness,
dealing with perfectionism, dealing with
stress, managing your time, coping with
exams, go to www.ssu.uts.edu.au/
counselling/self/index.html
62HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
Youth Depression – NSW Health
“Young people who are depressed
can feel down, worthless, tired and
irritable, hopeless, angry and even
suicidal. They may find it hard to sleep,
eat regularly, concentrate or control
their moods and can stop enjoying
things they usually like. If this lasts for
longer than a couple of weeks, it is time to
get help”. Read More at www.health.nsw.
gov.au/topics/youthdepression.html.
The Tristan Jepson Memorial
Foundation (TJMF) aims to decrease
stress, disability and the causes of
depression and anxiety in the legal
profession. Their website is www.tjmf.org.au
and has a number of online resources that
highlight activities, research and initiatives
which are related to depression. TJMF also
hosts the annual Tristan Jepson Memorial
Lecture in September, which is a forum for
the legal community to discuss depression
and other mental health issues within the
profession.
e-mental health research &
development – “e-hub is an initiative of
the Centre for Mental Health Research at
the Australian National University. e-hub
develops and evaluates websites that
deliver psycho-education and psychological
interventions for common mental health
problems, as well as clinical and consumer
networking. A range of the e-hub’s projects
have explored the importance and quality of
health information on the Internet, and the
use of the Internet for disseminating public
health information on depression.”
Read more at www.ehub.anu.edu.au.
e-couch – “e-couch provides evidence
based information about emotional
problems (including depression and anxiety
disorders) and teaches strategies that may
help you to prevent problems and to
understand yourself better”.
Go to ecouch.anu.edu.au/welcome
for more information.
MoodGYM - “MoodGYM is an innovative,
interactive web program designed to prevent
depression. It consists of five modules, an
interactive game, anxiety and depression
assessments, downloadable relaxation audio, a
workbook and feedback assessment. Using
flashed diagrams and online exercises,
MoodGYM teaches the principles of cognitive
behaviour therapy – a proven treatment for
depression. It also demonstrates the relationship
between thoughts and emotions and works
through dealing with stress and relationship
break-ups, as well as teaching relaxation and
meditation techniques.”
Go to moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome for more
information.
BluePages™ –“BluePages provides information
about depression for consumers. BluePages is
produced by the Centre for Mental Health
Research at the Australian National University.
Regular feedback is sought from the BluePages
Advisory Board and from consumers. BluePages
is one of a kind – it provides users with the
highest quality scientific evidence on
interventions for depression plus consumer
perspectives and understanding.”
Go to bluepages.anu.edu.au/home for
more information.
BlueBoard – “BlueBoard is an online
community for people suffering from depression
or anxiety, their friends and carers, and for those
who are concerned that they may have
depression or anxiety and want some support.
We hope that this bulletin board will enable
people to reach out and both offer and receive
help. The main thing we want you to know is that
you are not alone!” Go to blueboard.anu.edu.au
for more information.
If you are worried that you may be depressed
and wish to speak to a person experienced in
dealing with lawyers. LawCare is a very helpful
resource. LawCare counsellors are GPs and
experts in dealing with the unique difficulties
faced by lawyers. The initial call is free and the
service is available 24 hours a day. It is
completely confidential with no involvement
by the Law Society. LawCare can be
contacted on 0416 200 788.
The Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP)
helps practitioners in distress. It’s a discreet
service that allows lawyers to discuss their
problems, in confidence, with the program
coordinator who may subsequently refer
them to an appropriate agency or scheme,
including LawCare. This service is not just
for depression. If you have lost a loved one
or suffered a traumatic experience, this
service aims to prevent these problems
being exacerbated, and to reduce the risk
of impact on yourself, your family, your
partner and your clients. If you are in
distress, or are aware of a colleague in
distress, you should contact the coordinator
on 1800 777 662 or visit www.lap.com.au
for further information.
Many law firms and companies now have
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
Firms or companies employ an independent
company to provide free telephone
counselling services to their employees.
These services are confidential and the only
information provided to your employer is
statistics on the rate of use of the service
as a whole by its employees. New starters
are usually provided details of the
company’s EAP in their welcome materials.
Don’t let it become so unbearable that it
ends up affecting your personal life or
damaging your health.
It is more embarrassing to have to quit your
job, lose your Practising Certificate due to
lack of fitness or be admitted to hospital,
than it is to call up or visit someone and
just say that you have been feeling low.
If you are feeling suicidal it is very
important to seek immediate help,
preferably with a mental health practitioner.
63
Further information can be found at the
following websites:
• www.beyondblue.org.au
• www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
• www.healthinsite.gov.au
• www.health.gov.au/internet/main/
publishing.nsf/Content/
Mental+Health+and+Wellbeing-1
• www.infrapsych.com • www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
Steps to help prevent depression
Prevention is better than cure. While some
people are more prone to depression than
others, there are steps you can take to help
lower your chance of developing depression
in such a high-risk profession.
The most important thing is balance. Make
sure you have some time away from work
and the office where you can relax and
unwind, with no phone, Blackberry, access
to work emails and no other work-related
distraction. You cannot maintain high
productivity or quality at work unless you
rest as hard as you work.
Avoid working on the weekends, including
taking work home. If you must over-extend
yourself for a time, make sure you take
some holiday leave afterwards to stop
yourself burning out.
Substance abuse
“The problem with drinking wine from a
glass that won’t empty is that by 9.30
you’re pretty pissed. That’s when you start
doing things you wouldn’t ordinarily do.
Like telling a group of clients that you could
have handled a particular case a lot more
expertly than one of the senior partners
had. Like telling another client that he
should stop sending work to a particular
partner who is, in your opinion, a fool and
instead send work to you because you, in
your opinion, are not.” 58
Drug abuse, particularly alcohol abuse is
relatively common in the legal profession
compared to other professions.
A recent survey of various professions has
found that lawyers are the most likely to
suffer depression and use drugs and
alcohol to manage depressive symptoms.59
Complaints to the Office of the Legal
Services Commissioner about practitioners
alleging misconduct because of substance
abuse form only a small number of the total
complaints and these types of complaints
are difficult to substantiate. However, it is
worth noting that complaints in this area
come not only from clients but from
professional colleagues, or in some
instances from practitioners who take
over files from others whose apparent
problems have impacted on the service
they provided.60
If you find you are using drugs to stay
awake to work longer, to calm down or have
fun, this is not normal and could result in
the end of your legal career if you let it
continue. The same is true if you are
drinking excessively to relax after a hard
day at work. It is not normal to drink every
day or get drunk regularly to relax. This will
end up affecting your work, your health and
your relationships.
Regulation 176 of the Legal Professional
Regulation (NSW) 2005 requires those
holding a Practising Certificate to undertake
regular continuing legal education (CLE)
in the principles of equal employment
opportunity; the law relating to
discrimination and harassment;
occupational health and safety law;
employment law; and the management of
legal practice.
The use of alcohol or drugs may not only
involve unlawful behaviour but may also
have a serious and detrimental effect on
your career. It is vital that you acknowledge
the problem and seek help to resolve
the problem.
Discrimination in employment occurs when
a person is unfairly treated at work. It is
unlawful for your employer to treat you
differently due to:
• pregnancy
• family responsibilities
• gender
• disability
• sexuality
• race
• age
• marital status
• caring responsibilities.
The Law Society offers the LawCare and
Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP) as
described on page 63.
You can also contact Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA); a fellowship of men
and women who share their experience,
strength and hope with each other as they
solve their common problem and help
others to recover from alcoholism. You can
contact them on their 24-hour helpline on
(02) 9799 1199. 61
Equal opportunities and
discrimination
Equal employment opportunity (EEO)
means that everyone should have fair and
equitable access to jobs, employment
conditions, training and promotional
opportunities. The EEO is consistent with
the principle of merit.
All workplaces should have policies and
procedures to ensure equal opportunities
for employees and a formal policy to ensure
that no firm member is subject to
discrimination or harassment. 62
64HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE in your first year of law
Discrimination can be both direct and
indirect. Direct discrimination is usually
quite obvious but indirect discrimination,
while less obvious, is just as damaging. An
example would be a practice group in a
firm organising a team-building sports day
which prevents a member of the team with
a physical disability from participating.
Employees who are discriminated against
are able to access free legal advice (which
is capped at a certain amount) if they claim
to have been unlawfully dismissed, on the
basis of discrimination. For further
information about employee rights contact
the Anti-Discrimination Board 63 or the
Department of Human Rights and Equal
Opportunities. 64
65
sexual
t
n
e
m
s
s
hara
Sexual harassment is defined as ‘unwanted
conduct of a sexual nature.’ Conduct can
be in the following forms:
•staring or leering
jokes / comments / posters
•suggestive
/ emails / magazines / screensavers
/ calendars (of a sexual nature)
•sexual insults or taunts
•unwanted requests to go out
•requests for sex
•unwelcome touching.
It need only be one instance of any
such conduct.
What can I do if I am,
or someone I know
is, being sexually
harassed?
•Start keeping a diary of events.
•Inform your supervisor / manager.
the Human Resources
•Inform
Department.
the Human Rights and Equal
•Contact
Opportunity Board by phone, letter
G
N
I
Y
L
BUL
Workplace bullying causes
significant damage to an employer
as well as the victim. Bullying can be
defined as the persistent use of
offensive behaviour which gradually
undermines a person’s self-esteem
and confidence.
A bully is defined in the Concise Oxford
Dictionary as “a person who uses
strength or power to coerce others by
fear” and that to bully is to “oppress,
persecute, physically or morally by (threat
of) superior force.”
Examples of bullying behaviour include
unfair and excessive criticism, publicly
insulting victims, ignoring their point of
view, constantly changing or setting
unrealistic work targets and undervaluing
their efforts at work. 67
Whilst bullying does not include
constructive criticism of behaviour or
performance by managers or supervisors,
it should be recognised that such
criticism can often be used as a way to
further undermine the confidence of a
person who is already under the
cumulative effect of harassment and that
such poor performance may well be a
direct result of that harassment. 68
Bullying can result in anxiety, headaches,
nausea, sleeplessness, skin rashes,
irritable bowel syndrome, high blood
pressure, tearfulness and loss of
self-confidence.
65
or email for advice (within 12 months).
the NSW Anti Discrimination
•Contact
Board (within 6 months).
66
66
67
f
i
o
d
o
t
t
a
h
w
g
n
i
e
b
e
r
a
u
yo
d
e
i
l
l
u
b
If you feel you are being singled out or
bullied at work, you should not put up
with it. Firstly, speak to the bully. A direct
approach is usually the best. Tell the
person that you find his or her behaviour
unacceptable and ask them to stop. This
is sometimes all that is needed. Bullies
do not like being confronted particularly
by someone who is calm and civilised.
The majority of bullying goes on behind
closed doors. So tell a friend or work
colleague. You may find out you are not
the only one who has suffered. It is
important that you do not try to cope on
your own.
You can tell your mentor or the Human
Resources Department what has been
happening. This should be in confidence
and you can make it clear that you do not
wish to make a formal complaint (if you
so choose). They should want to have the
bullying stopped quickly and quietly and
can go with you to speak to the bully, or
see them on your behalf. They will also
help you with a formal complaint, if it
goes that far, giving advice and support
throughout the procedure.
Keep a diary. This will give a vital record
of the nature of the bullying and when it
occurred. It will be important when the
bully is confronted. Many of the incidents
may appear trivial in isolation so it is
important to establish a pattern over a
period of time.
68
Tell your manager or supervisor. If one of
them is bullying you, go and tell their
manager. Take your diary with you to back
up what you have to say. They may not
believe you but at least you have told them
there is a bullying problem. The more
people who know, the more difficult it is for
the bully to flourish.
In the end you may have to make a formal
complaint and go through the grievance
procedure. If you do take this route, never
go to a meeting connected with the
complaint without someone you trust as
a witness. 69
MANAGING YOUR
PROFESSIONAL
REPUTATION
o
What can kI edd to
if I am asthing
do some hink is
which I t
?
l
a
c
i
h
t
une
The Law Society’s ethics advisory service
provides solicitors with practical and
confidential advice to resolve ethical
dilemmas and to help avoid complaints
from clients or colleagues. Typical issues
involve conflict of interest, duties to
colleagues, termination of retainer,
confidentiality, communications and
undertakings.
To access this service, call 9926 0114
or email: [email protected]. 70
6969
“…Solicitors,
bankers and
associates are
discovering that
corporate life is
not all that was
promised in the
glossy recruitment
brochures.” 71
How do I resign from my job?
DO NOT burn your bridges. If you do decide
to leave a firm, do everything possible to
leave on good terms. The legal community
is small and you should do everything
possible to leave a job with dignity and
decorum. After all, you may require a good
word to assist in securing your next dream
job. Even if you dislike your supervisor or
workplace make sure you give the proper
notice as required in your contract of
employment. Be professional and courteous
and thank them for the experience you
have gained. Do not insult your previous
supervisor, spread gossip or get angry and
walk out. If you have not enjoyed the
experience, keep it to yourself. No need to
be unprofessional by speaking negatively
about your firm or employer. This sort of
behaviour may come back to bite you. If
your employer holds “exit interviews” you
can always off-load there, but remain
business-like and rational in your criticism.
Drafting your resignation letter
The letter should include the date your
resignation is effective, the role from which
you are resigning from and the date of your
last day. Refer to the notice provision in
your contract or the award that relates to
your role.
A sample resignation letter would read
something like:
“Dear (manager’s name),
I hereby tender my resignation from my
role as a junior solicitor at X & X Lawyers.
My resignation is effective from today.
As per my contract, I am providing X & X
with 4 weeks notice. My last working day
will be (fill in the date).
Yours sincerely,”
Don’t forget to date the letter. Depending on
your personal feelings, you might want to
add a paragraph or two before signing off.
If you have valued your time with the
employer, learnt a lot, made friends and
enjoyed yourself, say so in just a paragraph
or two.
If you want to ‘soften’ the letter then add
a touch here and there. For example,
“Dear (manager’s name),
It is with sadness/regret that I write to you
to tender my resignation from my role as
junior solicitor in the insurance division at
X & X Lawyers.
In any event, if you respect your manager,
you will have dropped by his or her office to
break the news in person and explain the
reasons why you are leaving. The letter
should be more for HR purposes. Even the
most confident and well-adjusted manager
can take a resignation personally so if your
manager becomes defensive, show some
empathy. Keep the conversation friendly.
For those that like their employer and
colleagues, spend a paragraph or two of
your resignation letter talking about the
positives. Recall the opportunities the
company provided, the things you learnt –
that sort of thing. It’s fine to add a personal
detail about how much you enjoyed working
with everyone as well. End the letter with
best wishes for the company’s future and
give as much notice as you can. 72
“Heroes know that things must happen
when it is time for them to happen. A quest
may not simply be abandoned; unicorns
may go unrescued for a long time, but not
forever; a happy ending cannot come in the
middle of the story.” 73
I have enjoyed the role and the people very
much and will always have fond memories.
My resignation is effective from today. As
per my contract, I am providing X & X with
four weeks notice. My last working day will
be (insert the date).
I wish you, the team and everyone at X & X
all the very best for your continued success.
Yours sincerely,”
If you are happy in your role but leaving to
pursue a better opportunity then use one
of the softer openings.
70
71
Further recommended reading
Fictional
Kinsella, Sophie, The Undomestic Goddess
Courtney, Polly, Golden Handcuffs
Beasley, Richard, Hell Has Harbour Views, Pan Macmillan,
first published 2001, this edition, 2005
Grisham, John, The Partner
Grisham, John, The King of Torts
Lee, Harper, To Kill a Mockingbird
Blachman, Jeremy, The Anonymous Lawyer
Knight, Dominic, The Disco Boy, (A novel by one of the guys behind The Chaser)
Non-Fictional
Bolles, Richard N., What Color is Your Parachute?, Ten Speed Press, 2006
Bronson, Pro, What Should I Do With My Life?, Vintage, 2004
Pryor Lisa, The Pin-Striped Prison, Picador, Pan Macmillan Australia, 2008
Edwards Kasey, Thirty Something & Over It, Edbury Press, 2009
Sher, Barabara, I Could Do Anything If Only I Knew What It Was, Bentam Doubleday
Dell Publishing Group, 1994
Tieger, Paul D & Barrron, Barbara, Do What You Are, Scribe, 2007
72
Footnotes
1 Stoner v Skene (44 Ontario Law Reports, page 609, 1918), per Justice Lennox.
35 Lisa Pryor,, The Pin Striped Prison, How overachievers get trapped in corporate jobs they hate
2 www.collegeview.com/articles/CV/careers/be_a_lawyer.html.
36 www.mahlab.com.au/.
3 How Becoming a Lawyer Works by Laura Murray and Sam Burritt cited at money.
howstuffworks.com/becoming-a-lawyer1.htm.
4 Parents talking career choices at Job Guide, Australian Government, Department of
Education, Employment Relations www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au.
5 Parents talking career choices at Job Guide, Job Guide, Australian Government, Department
of Education, Employment Relations www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au.
6 Job Guide, Australian Government, Department of Education, Employment Relations www.
jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au.
7 University of Sydney , advice to parents, cited by Pryor, Lisa, The Pin Striped Prison, at 15
8 Alsini & Van Vooren, Is There a Solution to the Problem of Lawyer Stress? The Law School
Perspective, 10 JL & Health, 61, 66 (1995 1996).
9 Lisa Pryor, The Pin Striped Prison.
10 Lisa Pryor, The Pin Striped Prison.
11 Jerry Seinfeld, American Comedian.
12 The American Bar Association, the report of ‘At the Breaking Point: A National Conference
on the Emerging Crises in the Quality of Lawyer’s Health and Lives Its Impact on Law Firms
and Client Services’ 11 (1991) as cited in ‘On Being a Happy, Healthy, and Ethical Member
of an Unhappy, Unhealthy and Unethical Profession’ by Patrick J Schiltz.
13 Ian Chung: www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/stories/2008/2195243.htm#transcript.
14 Parents talking career choices at Job Guide, Job Guide, Australian Government, Department
of Education, Employment Relations www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au.
37 Ian Chung: www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/stories/2008/2195243.htm#transcript.
38www.fairpay.gov.au/.
39 Lisa Pryor, The Pin Striped Prison.
40 The Law Society of New South Wales, Supervised Legal Practice, cited at www.lawsociety.
com.au/ForSolictors/practisinglawinnsw/supervisedlegalpractice/index.htm>.
41 Australian Public Services Commission, Probation, www.apsc.gov.au/publications03/
probation.htm.
42 Richard Beasley, Hell has Harbour Views
43 Lewis Grizzard cited at thinkexist.com/quotes/lewis_grizzard.
44 William C Menninger 1899-1966 Self Understanding 1951 cited by Larry Chang, Wisdom
for the Soul at books.google.com.au/books?id=-T3QhPjIxhIC&pg=RA1-PA646&lpg=RA1PA646&dq=face+our+shadows+they+dissappear&source=bl&ots=azM0nrcDJD&sig=T6hj
UnaYUEJPN6PeWRWfltnGRfU&hl=en&ei=_iQ-St7xCNGHkAWTvtC1Dg&sa=X&oi=book_
result&ct=result&resnum=1>.
45 Office of Legal Services Commissioner, Commissioner’s comment, Without Prejudice Issue
33,www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/olsc/ll_olsc.nsf/pages/OLSC_wp33.
46 Samuel Butler thinkexist.com/quotes/samuel_butler.
47 The Law Society of New South Wales, Supervised legal Practice , cited at www.lawsociety.
com.au/ForSolictors/practisinglawinnsw/supervisedlegalpractice/index.htm>.
48 The Law Society of New South Wales, Supervised legal Practice , cited at www.lawsociety.
com.au/ForSolictors/practisinglawinnsw/supervisedlegalpractice/index.htm>.
15 Legal Profession Admission Rules 2005, Second Schedule www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/
lawlink/lpab/ll_lpab.nsf/pages/lpab_secondandfourthschedule#1.
49 The Law Society of New South Wales, Supervised legal Practice , cited at www.lawsociety.
com.au/ForSolictors/practisinglawinnsw/supervisedlegalpractice/index.htm>.
16 www.collegeview.com/articles/CV/careers/be_a_lawyer.html.
50 www.mcsweeneys.net/links/lists/16E.Noakes.html.
17 Life Beyond Law School www.survivelaw.com/beyond.html>.
51 Samuel Butler thinkexist.com/quotes/samuel_butler.
18 Wenee Yap and Julian Ngui Law School, A survivor’s Guide,
www.survivelaw.com/guideintro.html>.
52 www.stressmanagement.co.uk/.
19 Workplace experience means supervised employment in a law or law related work
environment or equivalent unpaid engagement in such an environment, Legal Profession
Admission Rules 2005, Sixth Schedule.
20 Legal Profession Admission Rules 2005, Fourth Schedule.
21 Legal Professional Admission Board www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/lpab/ll_lpab.nsf/pages/
lpab_admissionreq.
22 The Hon. Justice George Palmer, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Opening of Practical
Legal Education Conference, 11 November 2006, College of Law, Sydney,
Last updated 14 November 2006 Crown Copyright ©, cited at www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/
lawlink/Supreme_Court/ll_sc.nsf/pages/SCO_palmer111106
23 Lisa Pryor, the Pin Striped Prison.
24 For example, www.collaw.edu.au/pp/legal_job_vacancies.asp; www.seek.com.au;
careerone.com.au; gumtree.com.au; www.lawsociety.com.au/jobs www.mahlab.com.au/.
25 www.cvMail.com.au/index.cfm cvMail.com.au is an online application system for law firms
around the world. Through the service, you can apply for both graduate and vacation
positions electronically and instantly.
53 Law Society of NSW cited at: www.lawsociety.com.au/page.asp?partID=427&elementID=1
9741#Heading1.
54 Puff Daddy, Do You Know
55 Keeping the Black Dog at Bay (June) 4 June 2007 Geoff Dunlev, President’s message cited
www.lawsociety.com.au/page.asp?partID=19739.
56 www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/stories/2008/2195243.htm#transcript; Lawyers Weekly
Online, Depressed lawyers turn to alcohol and drugs, 24 April 2007, cited at www.
lawyersweekly.com.au/articles/Depressed-lawyers-turn-to-alcohol-and-drugs_z69496.
57 Black Dog Institute, Symptoms of Depression, Fact Sheet 01.01, published 16 March 2005.
58 Richard Beasley, Hell has Harbour Views
59 Lawyers Weekly Online, Depressed lawyers turn to alcohol and drugs, 24 April 2007, cited
at www.lawyersweekly.com.au/articles/Depressed-lawyers-turn-to-alcohol-and-drugs_
z69496.htm.
60 Office of Legal Services Commissioner, Commissioner’s comment, Without Prejudice Issue
33,www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/olsc/ll_olsc.nsf/pages/OLSC_wp33.
61 Alcoholics Anonymous, Sydney Australia cited at: www.aasydney.org.au/.
26 www.rollonfriday.com (Also useful for industry gossip)
62 www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/workplace/discrim/index.html.
27 Australasian Legal Information Institute www.austlii.edu.au.
63 Anti Discrimination Board (ADB), www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/adb, Phone: 9268 5555; Office of
the Employment Advocate, www.oea.gov.au, Phone: 1300 366 632.
28 University Technology of Sydney, Practical Legal Training cited at
datasearch.uts.edu.au/law/courses/practical.cfm.
29cvMail.com.au.
30 Lewis Grizzard cited at thinkexist.com/quotes/lewis_grizzard.
31 Marsha Sinetar Do What you love and the money will follow 1987 cited by cited by Larry
Chang, Wisdom for the Soul at books.google.com.au/books?id=-T3QhPjIxhIC&pg=RA1PA646&lpg=RA1-PA646&dq=face+our+shadows+they+dissappear&source=bl&ots=azM
0nrcDJD&sig=T6hjUnaYUEJPN6PeWRWfltnGRfU&hl=en&ei=_iQSt7xCNGHkAWTvtC1Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1>.
32 Altman Weil Pensa, Inc., the 1996 Survey of Law Firm Economics, at III-3 (1996) as cited in
‘On Being a Happy, Healthy, and Ethical Member of an Unhappy, Unhealthy and Unethical
Profession’ by Patrick J Schiltz at page 892.
33 Weil Pensa, Inc., the 1996 Survey of Law Firm Economics, at III-3 (1996) as cited in ‘On
Being a Happy, Healthy, and Ethical Member of an Unhappy, Unhealthy and Unethical
Profession’ by Patrick J Schiltz at page 892.
34 Marianne Williamson, 1952, A Return to Love 1992 cited by Larry Chang, Wisdom for the
Soul books.google.com.au/books?id=-T3QhPjIxhIC&pg=RA1-PA646&lpg=RA1-PA646&dq
=face+our+shadows+they+dissappear&source=bl&ots=azM0nrcDJD&sig=T6hjUnaYUEJP
N6PeWRWfltnGRfU&hl=en&ei=_iQ-St7xCNGHkAWTvtC1Dg&sa=X&oi=book_
result&ct=result&resnum=1>.
64 Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), www.hreoc.gov.au, Phone:
9284 9600, Fax: 9284 611.
65 Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), www.hreoc.gov.au, Phone:
9284 9600, Fax: 9284 611.
66 Anti Discrimination Board (ADB), www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/adb, Phone: 9268 5555; Office of
the Employment Advocate, www.oea.gov.au, Phone: 1300 366 632.
67 www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/workplace/discrim/bully.html.
68 www.workplacebullying.co.uk/employerind.html.
69 www.tuc.org.uk/tuc/rights_bullyatwork.cfm#beingbullied.
70 Law Society of NSW, cited at www.lawsociety.com.au/ForSolictors/professionalstandards/
Ethics/index.htm
71 Lisa Pryor, The Pin Striped Prison.
72 Kate Southam, Editor of careerone.com.au at cited at www.careerone.com.au/jobs/
job-search/get-that-job/op/edit/pid/445.
73 Peter S. Beagle quotes (American Writer. b.1939) cited thinkexist.com/quotes/by/movie/
the_last_unicorn/.
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t
&
in your first year of law
The aim of this nutshell guide is to
expose the media contradictions
and dispel the public perceptions
that the practice of law is
glamorous, interesting, highly
prestigious, and well paid.
younglawyers.com.au